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New Cholesterol Guidelines Urge Earlier Screenings, Lower LDL Targets
WJHG ^ | Jul. 7, 2026 | Alyssa Dutton

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.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Health/Medicine; Science
KEYWORDS: cholesterol; health; statins; tcoyh

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To: Veto!
Olive oil does have some saturated fat: 14% by volume or about 2 grams of saturated fat per tablespoon. By comparison, butter has 7.5 grams of saturated fat in a tablespoon, and canola oil only has 1 gram. No idea which of these three is actually healthiest, and may totally vary from person to person.


41 posted on 07/14/2026 2:03:26 PM PDT by Wayne07
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To: grame

Having patients believe they need a prescription medication will ensure future visits from those patients, to get the prescription.


42 posted on 07/14/2026 2:03:58 PM PDT by TTFX
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To: FamiliarFace

My copy of that book just came in the mail from amz. Look forward to reading it.
btw, my cholesterol looks pretty good


43 posted on 07/14/2026 2:04:22 PM PDT by Veto! ((Whatever it is, I'm against it))
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To: TTFX

Definitely the only reason I can think of taking them. To keep drs working. “First do no harm”?? Musta fell by the wayside.


44 posted on 07/14/2026 2:05:49 PM PDT by grame (May you know more of the love of God Almighty this day!)
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To: nickcarraway
the more important it is to push those levels lower,” Mhatre said.

No, screw you!

45 posted on 07/14/2026 2:07:45 PM PDT by Sirius Lee ("Never argue with a fool, onlookers may not be able to tell the difference.)
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To: Jane Long
Not Valium … apple spell check is funny … CALCIUM!!


46 posted on 07/14/2026 2:09:03 PM PDT by Sirius Lee ("Never argue with a fool, onlookers may not be able to tell the difference.)
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To: mikelets456

this boomer doesn’t think doctors are god. Proud pure blood.


47 posted on 07/14/2026 2:14:14 PM PDT by AbolishCSEU (Amount of "child" support paid is inversely proportionate to mother's actual parenting of children)
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To: Sirius Lee

Lolol!!!


48 posted on 07/14/2026 2:14:34 PM PDT by Jane Long (Jesus is Lord!)
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To: grame

If you’re interested in reading a little history, psychiatrists gave patients the insulin coma therapy for decades, without evidence that it was beneficial, I guess so they could feel that they could do something.


49 posted on 07/14/2026 2:15:53 PM PDT by TTFX
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To: TTFX

this. Everything is “triggering” and “anxiety inducing” for the under 35 set. Ridiculous. They are all on Adderall and anti depressants.


50 posted on 07/14/2026 2:16:20 PM PDT by AbolishCSEU (Amount of "child" support paid is inversely proportionate to mother's actual parenting of children)
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To: Veto!

You’re a few decades older than me, but I take a boatload of supplements also. I am on one prescription for restless legs, which I am grateful for. I’ve been on that for about 20 years, a very low dose, and it has really helped me. That’s it, though. I refuse to take any more prescriptions.

We walk every day and do exercises at home. My BP is normal, and while I could stand to lose a few pounds, I’m in pretty good health otherwise. My family can’t figure out why we don’t have any prescriptions. I just think most of them are poison. They will create a new problem.


51 posted on 07/14/2026 2:17:05 PM PDT by FamiliarFace (I got my own way of livin' But everything gets done With a southern accent Where I come from. TPetty)
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To: ronniesgal

We take Zahler D3/K2 … 5,000 iu D3/120 mcg K2/day.

Chewables.


52 posted on 07/14/2026 2:17:39 PM PDT by Jane Long (Jesus is Lord!)
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To: AbolishCSEU

I just want to mention that psychiatric drugs reduce the brain size of monkeys by 10%.


53 posted on 07/14/2026 2:18:18 PM PDT by TTFX
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To: maddog55
There’s no known correlation between high cholesterol and heart and stroke issues and statins are a big pharma ripoff...

Exactly.

54 posted on 07/14/2026 2:18:23 PM PDT by Blennos (This is the official Blennos tagline. Thanks to Big Red Badger. )
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To: Veto!

My doctor mentioned statins to me, and I told him no thanks. I try to watch my sugar intake, but admit, I could stand to try harder some days.


55 posted on 07/14/2026 2:21:19 PM PDT by FamiliarFace (I got my own way of livin' But everything gets done With a southern accent Where I come from. TPetty)
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To: Jane Long

thank u


56 posted on 07/14/2026 2:22:20 PM PDT by ronniesgal (can FR please get a "like" button and a "block" button? Please.)
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To: Paladin2

I saute my fish in evOO., which someone just mentioned has some saturated fat in it. they recommend canola oil, which has none. think, think, think....gotta study that stuff, perhaps there’s a reason I don’t use it.

I’m 90, in great health. In fact, my insurance advisor from United Health care just left, thinks I’m in xlnt shape too.


57 posted on 07/14/2026 2:23:13 PM PDT by Veto! ((Whatever it is, I'm against it))
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To: PghBaldy

I took Atorvastatin Calcium (Lipitor) for many years with no obvious problems. When I hit 60, I got muscle pain so bad I could hardly get up after I put my socks on. Lipitor gone...pain gone. It’s called statin induced myopathy. No statin for me ever again. Oh and then there is the brain fog.


58 posted on 07/14/2026 2:26:39 PM PDT by FrozenAssets (You don't have to be crazy to live here, but it helps)
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To: maddog55

Thanks for posting. I agree with you


59 posted on 07/14/2026 2:33:07 PM PDT by Jonny7797
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To: nickcarraway

Lower LDL targets equates to higher statin targets


60 posted on 07/14/2026 2:34:14 PM PDT by C210N
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