New Delhi, Feb. 13 -- If you've ever scanned your blood test and zeroed in on total cholesterol, cardiologists say you may be missing the numbers that actually signal heart risk. New guidance shared by US-based cardiologist Dmitry Yaranov explains why a deeper read of your lipid panel matters far more than a single headline figure.

In an Instagram video posted on 12 February, Dr Yaranov-who specialises in advanced heart failure and heart transplants-made the point clearly: "Most people focus on total cholesterol. That's not the number that matters. Here's what you should actually know about your lipid panel."

Heart disease risk is driven by specific cholesterol-carrying particles that directly fuel plaque build-up in arteries. Knowing t...