Researchers have recently reported that adults, starting the age of 20, now need to pay more attention to their levels of cholesterol due to the fact that their arteries may have begun damaging because of unhealthy levels.

This finding was based on a study done on a group of 18-30 year olds for 20 years and it was found that the risk of heart disease and stroke at later stages was increased by a higher cholesterol level at a younger age.

Dr. Mark Pletcher of the University of California, San Francisco, who led the study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, said, "We don't usually worry too much about heart disease risk until a person is in middle age because it's rare to have a heart attack in young adulthood."

The researchers mentioned that the young adults do not need to necessarily take medicine to lower the cholesterol level but they definitely should include exercises in their routine and keep a watch on their diet.

It has been further recommended by the American Heart Association that everyone who is 20 years old and more should get their cholesterol levels tested every five years.