If you have heart disease from clogged arteries, getting your bad cholesterol down to around 56 mg/dL instead of 66 mg/dL can cut your risk of heart attacks or strokes by about a third over three...

For people who already have heart disease, aiming to get their 'bad' cholesterol (LDL) below 55 mg/dL cuts their risk of serious heart problems by about one-third over three years compared to aiming for below 70 mg/dL — and it doesn’t seem to cause more side effects.

For people with heart disease from clogged arteries, getting their bad cholesterol down to around 56 doesn’t cause more serious side effects than staying at 66, and it’s safe to keep it that low for at least three years.

Keeping your 'bad' cholesterol really low—below 55 mg/dL—might give your heart and blood vessels the best protection against clogged arteries and heart problems.

The more you lower bad cholesterol (LDL) and the longer you keep it low, the lower your chances of heart attacks and strokes — it's like giving your arteries long-term protection, no matter how you lower that cholesterol, as long as it's done safely.

If you've had heart problems before, aiming to get your 'bad' cholesterol really low—below 55—cuts your risk of another heart issue by about a third compared to keeping it just under 70.