When do clogged arteries start in healthy people?
Prevalence of carotid atherosclerosis in 3-92-year-old Finns. The 3-generational cardiovascular risk in young Finns study.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
About 40% of young adults with carotid artery plaques do not have high LDL-cholesterol or hypertension.
Most people assume high cholesterol or blood pressure are the main causes of early artery damage, but this shows nearly half of young people with plaque don’t fit that profile.
Practical Takeaways
Consider asking your doctor about a carotid ultrasound if you're a young adult with a family history of heart disease, even if your cholesterol and blood pressure are normal.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
About 40% of young adults with carotid artery plaques do not have high LDL-cholesterol or hypertension.
Most people assume high cholesterol or blood pressure are the main causes of early artery damage, but this shows nearly half of young people with plaque don’t fit that profile.
Practical Takeaways
Consider asking your doctor about a carotid ultrasound if you're a young adult with a family history of heart disease, even if your cholesterol and blood pressure are normal.
Publication
Journal
Atherosclerosis
Year
2025
Authors
Olli T. Raitakari, J. Koskinen, K. Pahkala, S. Rovio, J. Mykkänen, Noora Kartiosuo, Sini Stenbacka, Irina Lisinen, B. Loo, T. Lehtimäki, M. Kähönen, M. Juonala, T. Laitinen, E. Jokinen, J. Kaikkonen, P. Tossavainen, J. Viikari
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Claims (5)
Even if you feel fine, your arteries might start building up plaque when your 'bad' cholesterol (LDL) hits around 50 to 60 mg/dL, and the more LDL you have, the more plaque builds up — steadily and predictably.
Almost half of adults in Finland have buildup in their neck arteries that gets much more common as people get older — by age 70, nearly everyone has it, but kids don’t have it at all.
About 4 out of every 10 young adults with early signs of artery clogging don't have high cholesterol or high blood pressure—so our usual heart risk checks might be missing a lot of people who already have early heart disease.
If you're under 40 and have high 'bad' cholesterol or high blood pressure, you're more likely to have buildup in the neck arteries that supply your brain — a sign that heart disease might be starting early.
People with plaque in their neck arteries are much more likely to have heart disease — about 8.6 times more likely — even after accounting for age and gender.