Slightly high cholesterol in a person’s 30s and 40s could lead to an exponential risk of heart disease in later life, according to a study.

Scientists from the Duke Clinical Research Institute in North Carolina, US, have found that for every decade lived with elevated cholesterol between the ages of 35 and 55, future risk of heart disease may increase by 39 per cent.

Their research paper – Hyperlipidemia in Early Adulthood Increases Long-Term Risk of Coronary Heart Disease – published in the journal Circulation studied data from 1,478 adults from the Framingham Heart Study. It concluded that failing to tackle elevated cholesterol, in mid-to-early life would bring serious risks in later years.

The good news, say experts, is that the problem can be brought under control through healthy living and regular exercise.

“We already know that too much cholesterol in your blood is a risk factor for having a heart attack or stroke,” said the British Heart Foundation’s Senior Cardiac Nurse Doireann Maddock.

“It’s never too early to start thinking about your heart health. By eating a healthy diet and keeping physically active you can help improve your cholesterol level.”

Several recent studies have shown that regular exercise between the ages of 30 and 50 is vital to maintaining a healthy heart, particularly in women. Research from the University of Queensland showed that physical inactivity poses a greater risk of heart disease in women over 30 than obesity, high blood pressure or smoking. Meanwhile, a recent study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology found that three quarters of heart attacks in women aged 35-44 could be prevented by taking more exercise.