Think cholesterol is a midlife issue? New guidelines say otherwise

New cholesterol guidelines, which include recommendations for screening and treatment to begin at age 30 rather than age 40, were just released by the American College of Cardiology, American Heart Association and nine other medical associations.

In addition to earlier screening recommendations, the guidelines also call for the use of a more contemporary cardiovascular disease risk calculator, additional testing as needed, implementation of treatment options for elevated triglyceride levels and earlier lifestyle modifications.

“This is an important step in the right direction when it comes to preventing heart disease,” says Dr. Azmey Matarieh, a cardiologist and cardiovascular service line director at Advocate Health Care. “So many instances of cardiovascular disease – potentially greater than 80% of cases – are preventable through lifestyle modifications. These guidelines have the potential to dramatically improve our population’s overall health and lifetime risk of cardiovascular disease.”

One in four adults in the U.S. has high LDL cholesterol, commonly referred to as the “bad” cholesterol. This leads to the buildup of lipoprotein in blood vessels and increases heart attack and stroke risk.

“Testing patients earlier in adulthood for elevated cholesterol levels allows health care providers to introduce medication if necessary and provide education around important changes to help lower those levels,” says Dr. Matarieh. “These changes are intended to be manageable, lifelong habits that become part of your daily routine to support heart health and overall wellness.”

He recommends the following lifestyle modifications to lower your cholesterol:

• Aim for 150 minutes each week of aerobic exercise
• Eat more healthy fats, like avocados, fish, and nuts and seeds
• Cut out saturated fats whenever possible
• Increase your fiber intake, as soluble fiber binds to cholesterol and removes it from your body

Dr. Matarieh says your health care provider can give you a personalized recommendation on how often you should receive cholesterol testing and ways to manage your cholesterol levels.

Annual cholesterol testing is often unnecessary for many people. Your insurance also isn’t currently required to cover earlier screenings, so make sure to check your coverage prior to the test.

Want to learn more about your risk for heart disease? Take a free online quiz.