Today I decided to write about cholesterol, one of the most discussed health…

We for You | Daily Reflection | *by Maryam* ❤️

Assalamu Alaikum dear Sisters,🌸
I hope you’re all feeling well and having a blessed Thursday. 🤍

Today I decided to write about cholesterol, one of the most discussed health topics in recent years.

A question I hear again and again is:

“Should I take statins, or can I lower my cholesterol naturally?”

It’s a completely understandable question. Hearing the words “high cholesterol” can make anyone anxious.

Recently, the 2026 ACC/AHA Cardiovascular Guidelines were published, and they remind us that heart health is much more than a single cholesterol number.

For years, we’ve all heard:

“Lower your cholesterol.”

One number.
One prescription.
One solution.

But modern cardiology is now moving toward personalised medicine.

❤️ Your heart health is more than one number

Your cardiovascular risk is based on the whole picture, including:

🧬 Genetics & family history

👩 Age & sex

🩸 Blood pressure

🍬 Diabetes or insulin resistance

🔥 Chronic inflammation

🫀 Liver & kidney health

😴 Sleep quality

🏃 Physical activity

🚭 Smoking

⚖️ Weight & metabolic health

This means two people with exactly the same LDL (“bad” cholesterol) can have completely different risks of heart attack or stroke and therefore require completely different treatment plans.

🧩One of the most interesting messages in the new guidelines reflects what functional and lifestyle medicine has emphasised for years:

Atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) is not simply a “cholesterol disease.”

It is often driven by several interconnected factors working together over time:

• Insulin resistance

• Excess visceral (abdominal) fat

• Chronic low-grade inflammation

• Fatty liver disease

• Blood sugar fluctuations

• High blood pressure

• Poor sleep

These aren’t separate problems, they’re often different pieces of the same puzzle. Lowering cholesterol is important, but improving overall metabolic health and reducing inflammation are just as important for long-term heart health.

📌 Here are some of the key updates from the 2026 ACC/AHA Guidelines:

✅ 1. Earlier and more personalized risk assessment

The new PREVENT Risk Calculator estimates both your 10-year and 30-year cardiovascular risk for adults aged 30–79 years.

https://www.mdcalc.com/calc/10491/predicting-risk-cardiovascular-disease-events-prevent

10-year risk categories:

🟢 Low: <3%

🟡 Borderline: 3–5%

🟠 Intermediate: 5–10%

🔴 High: ≥10%

✅ 2. Everyone should measure Lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] at least once in their lifetime

Around 20% of people have inherited elevated Lp(a), which can significantly increase the risk of heart attack, stroke, and aortic valve disease, even if they exercise regularly, eat a healthy diet, and are not overweight.
Higher risk: >125 nmol/L

Optimal (according to some preventive medicine experts): 18–35 nmol/L

✅ 3. LDL targets now depend on your individual risk

There is no longer one “normal” LDL target for everyone.

Current targets are approximately:

💚 Lower risk: LDL <2.6 mmol/L

🧡 High risk: LDL <1.8 mmol/L

❤️ Very high risk (previous heart attack or stroke): LDL <1.4 mmol/L

✅ 4. CAC (Coronary Artery Calcium) Scan

For people with borderline or intermediate cardiovascular risk, a CAC scan can show whether plaque has already developed in the coronary arteries and help guide decisions about treatment.

Even when statins are recommended, they are only one part of treatment.
🌿 Lifestyle remains the foundation.

❤️ Eat a balanced diet based on real, minimally processed foods.

🥦 Reduce refined carbohydrates and blood sugar spikes.

🏃 Stay physically active.

😴 Prioritise quality sleep.

⚖️ Maintain a healthy weight while managing blood pressure and blood sugar.

🚭 Avoid smoking.

*One more important point*❣️

Our bodies need cholesterol to produce estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, cortisol, vitamin D, bile acids, and healthy cell membranes.

The goal is not to eliminate cholesterol, but to keep it within a healthy range while addressing the underlying causes of cardiovascular disease.

Some people taking statins may also experience muscle aches or fatigue because statins can reduce the body’s natural production of Coenzyme Q10. If this happens, discuss it with your healthcare provider before making any changes to your medication.

Instead of asking only:

“Should I take statins?”

Consider asking:

“What is my personal cardiovascular risk, and what is the best strategy for me?”

For some people, healthy lifestyle changes may be enough.

For others, statins are an important part of reducing the risk of heart attack or stroke.

The best decision should always be made together with your healthcare provider, based on your individual cardiovascular risk, not fear, and not a single cholesterol number.

I hope conventional medicine continues embracing a more holistic, personalized approach—one that looks beyond individual laboratory results and focuses on the person’s overall health. Personally, I believe this approach makes the most sense.

May Allah SWT bless us all with good health, wisdom, and hearts that remain strong for many years to come.

Ameen. 🤲🏻