New Delhi: People should begin checking their cholesterol levels as early as age 19 and monitor them regularly, according to new global heart health guidelines that warn that decades of untreated high cholesterol can silently raise the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
The recommendations come from the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association, whose guidance is widely followed by doctors worldwide. The updated 2026 dyslipidemia management guidelines recommend that adults start cholesterol screening at 19 and repeat the test at least once every five years to detect problems early.
Doctors say the advice is important because high cholesterol often has no symptoms but quietly damages blood vessels and increases the risk of cardiovascular disease over time. Prolonged exposure to high levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), or “bad cholesterol”, leads to plaque build-up in arteries and raises lifetime risk of heart disease.
From an Indian perspective, experts say the guidelines are particularly relevant as South Asians face higher cardiovascular risk. Dr Ambuj Roy, professor in the cardiology department at AIIMS, said the document identifies South Asian ancestry as a “risk enhancer”, meaning Indians may require earlier and more aggressive cholesterol management.
“South Asians have both a higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease and worse outcomes once heart disease occurs,” Roy said. “Along with blood pressure and blood sugar, every adult should have their lipid profile checked, so lifestyle changes and treatment can begin early to prevent premature heart disease, which we are increasingly seeing in young Indians.”
He added that statins remain the cornerstone of cholesterol-lowering therapy. “Despite myths circulating on social media, statins are safe and highly beneficial, particularly for people with heart disease or those facing risk factors such as diabetes, hypertension, obesity or family history,” Roy said.
Dr Anoop Misra of Fortis Hospital said the updated recommendations recognise the high cardiovascular risk among South Asians.
