New cholesterol guidelines could change when you get tested

A major new U.S. cholesterol guideline is shifting the focus toward earlier, more personalized prevention of heart disease. It urges people to start screening sooner-sometimes even in childhood-and highlights the importance of tracking not just LDL (bad) cholesterol but also genetic risk factors like lipoprotein(a). A new, more advanced risk calculator now uses broader health data to better predict heart attack and stroke risk over decades.