ACC, AHA Urge Earlier Cholesterol Screening as 1 in 4 U.S. Adults Has High LDL
Updated
Updated · Spectrum News 1 · Jun 30
ACC, AHA Urge Earlier Cholesterol Screening as 1 in 4 U.S. Adults Has High LDL
3 articles · Updated · Spectrum News 1 · Jun 30
Summary
Updated ACC and AHA cholesterol guidelines call for screening and lowering LDL earlier in life, arguing plaque buildup begins in the teenage years rather than old age.
1 in 4 U.S. adults has high LDL cholesterol, the American Heart Association said, underscoring the push to reduce a major driver of heart attacks and strokes before damage accumulates.
100 milligrams per deciliter is the LDL level most patients should aim to stay below, cardiologist Dharmesh Patel said, while noting diet alone often is not enough because the body makes about 75% of cholesterol.
80% of cardiovascular disease is preventable, Patel said, and treatment options now include statins, other pills and injections that can cut bad cholesterol by 20% to 60%.
Nearly 38% of screened Kentuckians have high cholesterol, according to America’s Health Rankings, highlighting the broader burden as heart disease remains the top U.S. killer.