High cholesterol can affect young, healthy people.

Alejandra Lavalley kept a healthy lifestyle yet was diagnosed with familial hypercholesterolemia in her early 30s, and cardiologists note cholesterol checks should begin at age 18.

Alejandra Lavalley maintained a healthy weight, exercised regularly, and ate home-cooked meals in her 20s, yet repeated blood tests showed very high cholesterol. After further evaluation she was diagnosed with familial hypercholesterolemia at age 31 and later began a different medication to manage her levels. The story is shared during Heart Health Awareness Month to highlight that high cholesterol can affect younger adults. Medical experts in the article emphasize that cholesterol contributes to artery plaque and that knowing levels helps assess cardiovascular risk. What we know: - Lavalley’s total cholesterol was reported in the three hundreds despite a healthy lifestyle. - Initial statin treatment produced only about a 10-point change, and she later started a PCSK9 inhibitor. - Cardiologist Laxmi Mehta said lowering LDL cholesterol by about 35 points can reduce cardiovascular disease risk by more than 20%. - Mehta told USA TODAY that cholesterol testing should begin at age 18 and can be repeated every five years if results are normal. Summary: Lavalley’s case illustrates that genetic forms of high cholesterol can appear in younger, otherwise healthy people and may require treatments beyond lifestyle changes. The article reports current clinical guidance to begin cholesterol screening at age 18, with follow-up frequency based on test results. Undetermined at this time.