Hey, ladies! We have good and bad news.
The bad news is that heart disease is still the leading cause of death among women in the U.S. (We’d like to see that change, but it hasn’t – yet.)
The good news is that the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association released new guidelines earlier this year that provide more personalized care to prevent heart attacks and strokes.
The 2026 ACC/AHA Multisociety Guideline on the Management of Dyslipidemia was developed with nine other medical organizations and focuses on earlier identification of risks and more aggressive treatment of high cholesterol.
We’re here to help you break down five important things women should know about these new guidelines.
- IMPEDE. Your likelihood of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD) will now be assessed by your doctor using a risk calculator called PREVENT. The score can then be used by you and your doctor to decide whether medication might be a good option for you, even if you have no symptoms or feel completely healthy.
- Lp(a). The new guidelines suggest that everyone should have a lipoprotein(a) or Lp(a) blood test once in their life. Lp(a) is an inherited type of lipoprotein (a particle in your blood that carries cholesterol throughout your body) that may increase your risk of heart attack and stroke. And while you can’t change your Lp(a) level directly, knowing your risk can help you make other decisions—like taking medications and making lifestyle changes—to lower your overall risk of cardiovascular disease.
- Personalized cholesterol levels. Your ideal cholesterol level is no longer a one-size-fits-all solution. Where your LDL cholesterol level (also known as “bad cholesterol”) should be now depends on your personal circumstances, e.g. For example, whether you have had a previous cardiovascular event or have other health conditions that put you at higher risk, such as diabetes or obesity.
Read: Do your part for your heart >>
- Coronary calcium scan. If you and your doctor are considering cholesterol medication for you and you are over 45 years old (40 for men), the new guidelines recommend that doctors consider recommending a coronary calcium scan, a CT scan that measures calcium levels in your arteries, to help make the decision.
- Statins are not the only option. If you and your doctor determine that you need medication to control your cholesterol levels, options other than statins may be available, depending on your personal risk profile.
