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...

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 years. For every 32 people treated this way, one person avoids a major heart problem.

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.

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.

If you've already had heart problems, keeping your 'bad' cholesterol really low—below 55—might help prevent future heart attacks or strokes compared to aiming for a higher level.

The longer your body is exposed to LDL cholesterol — even at pretty low levels like 60 — the higher your risk for heart disease, because plaque can start building up in your arteries without you knowing it.