There are two kinds of LDL cholesterol. The neutral, not-so-bad one is big a fluffy molecule that is returning to the liver for re-use. The bad one is a tighter, smaller molecule that is damaged and cannot be re-used. The bad one is what makes arterial plaques.
There is a test that can further break down the blood cholesterol into these two types, but it isn’t often used. However triglycerides are an excellent marker for the bad kind. The higher the blood triglyceride level, the more of the bad kind of LDL that clogs arteries.
Even high LDL cholesterol it is not a strong marker for heart problems without high triglycerides.
That must be why she doesn’t panic over my LDL being higher than it should be. My triglycerides are always good and so is my HDL. I go on my own once in a while to have ultrasound done on my arteries and they have never come back with buildup in them. She even sent me once to have them checked and they were good.