High cholesterol is one of the first risks of cardiovascular disease. However, few people think of having it checked for prevention. However, a study published in The Lancet shows that high levels of “bad” cholesterol (or LDL cholesterol) in the blood are associated with an increased risk of having a stroke or developing cardiovascular problems.
A higher risk at 45 than at 60
For this study, researchers from the universities of Hamburg (Germany) and Belfast (Ireland) collected data from nearly 400,000 people in 19 countries. They concluded that a high level of “bad cholesterol” in people under 45 represents a greater risk of heart attack or stroke from the age of 75 than a high cholesterol level at 60 years.
The explanation, according to the authors of this study, is that younger adults who already have high cholesterol levels can expect the damage to accumulate over a longer period of time. They estimate that taking care of your cholesterol from the age of 45 could reduce the risk of suffering from heart problems later on by 6 to 29%.
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