People with a genetic cholesterol problem (FH) who've had more cholesterol buildup over their lives are much more likely to have plaque in their heart arteries — about 3.6 times more likely — compared to those with less cholesterol exposure.

If young adults with a genetic form of high cholesterol have been exposed to high LDL levels for longer, they tend to have twice as much plaque buildup in their arteries for every 75 units of exposure over time — meaning long-term cholesterol exposure might silently damage their heart vessels.

Starting cholesterol-lowering meds early — before age 25 — helps FH patients build up less bad cholesterol over time, but surprisingly, that doesn’t seem to lead to a clear drop in heart artery damage.

The longer your body is exposed to LDL cholesterol — even at pretty low levels like 60 — the higher your risk for heart disease, because plaque can start building up in your arteries without you knowing it.

If you're a middle-aged person with symptoms, having higher 'bad' cholesterol (LDL) means you're more likely to have heart problems over the next four years — but only if scans show you already have plaque in your heart arteries.

Middle-aged adults who feel fine but have very high 'bad' cholesterol might be more likely to have hidden heart plaque, even if they don’t have symptoms.