At least a quarter of Americans suffer from high levels of cholesterol or fatty acids in their bloodstream, a condition called dyslipidemia. Uncontrolled cholesterol levels increase the risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, or ASCVD: a group of diseases that result from the buildup of plaque in the blood vessels, preventing blood from traveling smoothly to vital organs. This condition can lead to heart attack and stroke.

As a cardiologist with expertise in sports and exercise science, I routinely take care of patients who are interested in making healthy lifestyle choices to control their cholesterol levels, reduce their risk of cardiovascular disease and improve overall health.

In March 2026, new guidelines were provided on how to treat dyslipidemia, by the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology. These guidelines, which were last updated in 2018, include findings from several new studies about how to more effectively treat – and prevent – this condition.

These new guidelines are important for both patients and doctors interested in improving heart health. Of note, these guidelines can help doctors personalize treatment to reduce each individual patient’s risk of developing cardiovascular disease.

What changed in the new guidelines?

Compared to prior guidelines, the 2026 update emphasizes the need to treat high cholesterol and fatty acids earlier in life and more aggressively in order to reduce the risk of developing atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease later in life.

This push toward earlier and more aggressive treatment is based on the observation that there is a strong relationship between the duration of high cholesterol blood levels and the risk of cardiovascular disease over the span of a lifetime.

The new guidelines provide clinicians with information on how to use blood tests and imaging tools to help determine a person’s risk of developing cardiovascular disease.

Some important blood tests include standard lipid tests like levels of LDL (the “bad” cholesterol) and HDL (the “good” cholesterol), but the........

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