Thirty-five million Americans take a statin to lower their bad LDL cholesterol level. But a study published in the journal Heart reveals that about half of them won't reach their target in two years.

So what's the solution?

According to Harvard Medical School, doctors are discovering that for you to achieve healthy LDL and HDL cholesterol levels, you need a highly personalized approach to figuring out the medication or combination of medications that work best for you.

Statins are the first choice because they lower LDL cholesterol, help prevent atherosclerosis, and reduce your risk of a heart attack and stroke. A low-intensity statin can reduce LDL by up to 30%; a moderate one by up to 49%; and a high-intensity statin can reduce your LDL level by 50% or more.

I recommend aiming for an LDL under 70 mg/dL for most people.

If a statin doesn't work, your doctor may add ezetimibe, which blocks absorption of cholesterol. And for people with familial high cholesterol, who don't get results from a high-dose statin, or who can’t deal with the side effects, a PCSK9 inhibitor might be prescribed. 

Your doctor can discover which medications lower your LDL. But you have to honestly say how reliably you take your meds (many don't) and what your diet and activity level is like.

Your doctor can personalize your cholesterol treatment only if you're personally taking responsibility for your health and communicating with your doctor.