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.
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“Cereals and multivitamins contain retinol.”
Isn’t oatmeal supposed to lower cholesterol?
You have it figured out for sure. good for you.
Now you need an MD who prescribes your nutritional supplements to make them tax deductible. Med schools here are funded by the pharmaceutical companies, so doctors learn about drugs drugs drugs. My MD is Nigerian. best doc I ever had, more interested in keeping me healthy than curing me.
You’re correct. I’m talking about cereal products with added retinol supplements.
They said 135, I got there. They said 70, I got there. I was down to 35 but stopped the statins because of hand and foot cramps, still taking Zetia, haven’t told my cardiologist yet. Will wait to see what the numbers are at my next appointment.
Wow, you are outside the arbitrary norms we made up.
Just to be safe, better take this medicine for the rest of your life...
BP guidelines as well as cholesterol have come down not in accordance with life saving data but to put the necessary proportion of the public in the range where medication is prescribed.
My best friend was running 336 20 years ago. Went for scans and had no build up. She doesn’t want to take statins because of the physical effects. About 3 months ago she got checked and was at 426. Again no clogged arteries.the whole family runs high.
So she found a doctor who put her on a vitamin regimen for 90 days and she’s down to 295. You don’t necessarily have to take statins.
I wondered why I feel so relaxed after I take my k2. 😁
Yes, that’s why I included everything.
“My guess is people aren’t buying into the propaganda except for boomers that think doctors are gods.”
I’ve got your ‘boomer’ hanging Mikey.
Continually moving the goal posts.
More $$$ for Pharma, it appears.
Love the illustration. Isn’t that Olive OYL?
searched amz and the rest of the net for canola oil that comes in a glass bottle. None show uup. so I’ll stick with my california Olive ranch evOO that I buy at amz or at Safeway. Walmart delivers if I order a certain amount. maybe 40 bucks worth of groceries.
P;us Yum belgian beer in glass bottles. beer is a “miracle” food that clears your arteries. I hated beer until I visited belgium. their Stella. Artois tastes good to me and I can buy it anywhere here.
rapeseed oil is the real name. CANOLA is a marketing name they came up with to market this industrial lubricant after WW2.
It is a mash up of Canadian Oil. It is also a main ingredient in organic pesticides.
I prefer olive oil as well, for taste alone it wins.
thanks. that junk really requires a barf alert.
I love my california Olive ranch evOO. been using it for years, healthy as can be.
Despite claims to the contrary, I believe taste is a good guide for what’s good for you.
I like the cut of your jib! Bacon it is!!!
How do you stop the inflammation? I am genetically predisposed to very high cholesterol (my dad was too), so diet does absolutely nothing. I have near the entire of 2013 as proof (refractory nausea kept me from eating and I had to force water and 10 ER visits, 2 admitted, now on my second ENTERRA II gastric stimulator).
Cardiologist has me on ezitimide, can’t take stains. Crestor was horrible.
Absolutely no plaques in my arteries, very slight calcifications—like barely—after 61 years of eating a full range of foods because I’m Cajun. Echo very good ejection fraction. All I have is right bundle branch block that drives their ECGs crazy.
And COPD that’s rearing its ugly head a bit more often.
The best way I know to reduce inflammation is to get a good nights rest, drink a lot of water, keep physically busy, Advil when I need for pain or a lidocaine patch.
Thank Jesus every day for my gastric implant. Praise His Holy Name.
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