American Heart Association’s New Cholesterol Guidelines Puts More Focus on Prevention

By: Kaia Bonner

For the first time in nearly a decade, the American Heart Association has updated cholesterol guidelines to put a bigger focus on preventing heart disease before it starts.

While cholesterol has always been an important part of heart health, the new recommendations encourage healthcare professionals to look beyond a person’s cholesterol numbers. Factors like family history, age, blood pressure, and other health conditions can all play a role in someone’s risk for heart disease.

The new guidelines also recommend that adults get tested for lipoprotein(a), or Lp(a). Having high levels of Lp(a) indicates that a patient’s high cholesterol was inherited, which can also increase the risk of heart attack and stroke, even in those who appear healthy.

According to the new guidelines, doctors taking a more personalized approach may even recommend additional testing such as a coronary artery calcium scan. This tests for calcium build up in the heart that could be an early sign of heart disease.

Even with these new recommendations, healthy habits are still one of the best ways to protect your heart. Eating a balanced diet, staying active, managing blood pressure, and keeping up with routine check-ups can make all the difference

High cholesterol usually doesn’t have noticeable warning signs, which is why routine screenings are important. These new guidelines are a reminder that the earlier symptoms are identified, the sooner you and your doctor can create a plan to keep your heart healthy.