Posted on 07/14/2026 1:20:09 PM PDT by nickcarraway
Cardiologist says warning signs can develop years before symptoms appear
Heart disease remains the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States, but doctors say many cases can be prevented through early screening and lifestyle changes. New cholesterol guidelines are calling for screenings to begin earlier and for high-risk patients to reach lower LDL targets.
Dr. Ajay Mhatre, a cardiologist at Cardiovascular Institute of Northwest Florida, said the risks often build silently over time.
“Coronary disease or cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death for men and women in America,” Mhatre said.
Smoking, diabetes, inactivity, poor diet and family history are among the factors that raise a person’s risk for cardiovascular disease. Mhatre said regular medical checkups are a key part of prevention.
“Go see your physician, go get regular checkups, know what your cholesterol is, what your blood sugar is, what your blood pressure is, because you can modify those risk factors or prevent a cardiovascular event later on down the line,” Mhatre said.
One of the most significant changes in the updated guidelines involves LDL, or low-density lipoprotein, commonly referred to as “bad” cholesterol. Experts now recommend screenings begin around age 30, particularly for people with a family history of heart disease. For high-risk patients, the new target LDL level is below 55.
“The longer you’re exposed to high levels of LDL, which lead to things like heart attack and stroke, the more important it is to push those levels lower,” Mhatre said.
For patients whose LDL levels do not respond to lifestyle changes alone, doctors say there are more treatment options available than before, including statins, non-statin medications and newer injectable drugs.
“Prevention now will prevent problems later,” Mhatre said.
Doctors say people in their 30s and 40s who feel healthy should still know their cholesterol numbers, as early awareness can help prevent serious heart problems in the future.
Aspirin might also cause an iron deficiency. If a person’s blood ferritin is less than 70 ng/ml, the person has an iron deficiency.
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