Can HDL Raising Medication Actually Prove To Be Harmful?

Do you take medication to help raise your “good” cholesterol, better known as HDL? New research warns that this could actually be harmful to you. The Cleveland Clinic has concluded that raising HDL is actually not a matter of quantity but quality.

The authors concluded that while efforts to lower low-density lipoprotein (LDL or “bad cholesterol”) “have consistently reduced cardiovascular disease risk, HDL-based approaches are much more complex and sometimes disappointing.” As a result, “the primary focus should be on LDL,” said review co-author Mehdi Shishehbor, D.O., of the Cleveland Clinic.

Yes, it is true that HDL aids in moving fat molecules out of the arteries and towards the liver, but when HDL is large in nature, that helpful cholesterol can cause inflammation and blockages, which in turn can prove to be harmful!

Bottom line… be aware of the what if’s. Not all research is black and white and this is definitely a gray area. Be cautious when taking any prescription medication. Have you had a negative experience with this type of medication? Or have you had a positive response? Research is helpful, but patient experiences are truly first hand.

via Science daily