10 Medical Terms Every Senior Should Know (No More Guessing at the Doctor’s Office)

Cholesterol

You’ve probably heard about “good” and “bad” cholesterol—but let’s be real: most of us just stare blankly at the numbers. So here’s the simple version: LDL is the “bad” kind that clogs arteries; HDL is the “good” kind that helps clear them out.

High cholesterol often comes without symptoms, but it’s a big player in heart disease. Don’t try to fix it with food fads alone—talk to your doc about what’s really going on in those arteries. Sometimes a little pill can do a lot more than kale.