Diagnosis of high cholesterol very common It occurs in adults between the ages of 40 and 59, but can also occur in young people and children.

A 2021 study found that approximately 27% of young adults had elevated low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol of 130 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) or higher, and 9% had LDL cholesterol of 160 mg/dL or higher. It turned out that there was.

The young people did not have atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). ASCVD occurs when plaque builds up on the walls of arteries and includes conditions such as coronary heart disease.

Elevated LDL cholesterol in young adults aged 18 to 39 years increases the risk of ASCVD later in life.

Being aware of cholesterol levels in early adulthood may help initiate treatment to lower LDL levels earlier and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease later in life.

To check your cholesterol level, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute advises the following screening recommendations for young people:

• If you are under 19 years old: People between the ages of 9 and 11 can begin screening and get tested every five years. People with a family history of high cholesterol, heart attack, or stroke can be tested starting at age 2.
• Target age 20+: Young adults require testing every 5 years.

Learn about healthy cholesterol levels by age.

Combination of lifestyle changes and medicines can help Lowers cholesterol levels and keeps them within a healthy range.

It is important to identify risk factors for high cholesterol levels, such as a family history of high cholesterol levels. If you have a family history of high cholesterol, it may mean your body has a harder time removing LDL cholesterol. Genetic changes can cause familial hypercholesterolemia (FH), an inherited disease that causes high cholesterol.

Prescription medicines such as: can help Cholesterol lowering:

• Statins: These are the most common types of cholesterol-lowering drugs. Statins may help reduce your risk of heart attack and stroke.
• Bile acid sequestrants: If statins are inappropriate or ineffective, your doctor may prescribe bile acid sequestrants.
• PCSK9 inhibitor: PCSK9 inhibitors are injected subcutaneously every 2 to 4 weeks.

Drugs to treat FH include:

• Mipomersen
• Ezetimibe (Zetia)
• lomitapide

These drugs can cause side effects, so it is important to discuss the potential risks with your doctor before starting treatment.

eat heart-healthy food can help Lowers LDL cholesterol. This includes limiting saturated fat and sugar and focusing on fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.

Achieving and maintaining a healthy weight can also help reduce LDL cholesterol. Losing 3-5% of your body weight can lower LDL cholesterol and increase HDL cholesterol, which is beneficial to your health.

Read about 15 foods that lower cholesterol.

smoking Increased risk It damages blood vessels and increases the rate of hardening of the arteries, which can lead to heart disease. Quitting smoking helps reduce your risk of heart disease.

You can talk to your doctor for help quitting smoking or use online resources like Smokefree.

You can also limit your alcohol intake to lower your cholesterol levels. Excess alcohol increases cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the blood.

You can avoid alcohol or drink in moderation by following these guidelines.

• For men, up to 2 drinks per day
• For women, up to 1 drink per day

Learn about triglyceride and cholesterol levels.

Physical activity plays an important role in managing cholesterol levels.regular exercise can help Lowers LDL cholesterol, lowers triglycerides, and increases HDL cholesterol.

What one can aim for is 2 hours 30 minutes Adults should get moderate-intensity exercise every week, and children and adolescents should get an hour of physical activity every day. Moderate-intensity exercise includes things like brisk walking and cycling.

Learn more about exercise and cholesterol.

FH is a genetic disorder in which a person is born with high LDL cholesterol levels that continue to increase over time.Untreated, FH increases risk of heart disease up to 20 times.

Treatment of FH can help prevent complications. Diet and exercise can help, but they alone are not enough to reduce LDL cholesterol. You may also need to take medication or undergo treatment to lower your LDL levels by more than 50%.

Other causes of high cholesterol can include:

• diet high in saturated fat
• lack of physical activity
• smoking
• stress
• consume excessive alcohol

If untreated, FH can lead to fatal complications. Depending on the type of FH, a person may develop heart disease by the time they reach adulthood. 30 years old.

Without early diagnosis and treatment, a rare type of FH, homozygous FH, can lead to heart disease in the first decade of life. Early diagnosis and treatment of FH provides a good outlook.

Combining treatments such as lifestyle changes and medication, Might be helpful Lowers LDL cholesterol levels.

A 2021 study suggests that keeping LDL cholesterol levels in a healthy range throughout youth and middle age can help. reduce risk ASCVD occurs throughout life.

Although high cholesterol is more common in older people, it can also affect young people, adolescents, and even children.

Genetic disorders can cause high cholesterol in young people. Other risk factors include a diet high in saturated fat, lack of physical activity, smoking, and excess alcohol.

Lifestyle, dietary changes, and prescription medications can help lower cholesterol.