People who are young and healthy may still be vulnerable to the risk of premature death from cardiovascular disease if they have higher levels of bad cholesterol, according to a new research. Bad cholesterol, or LDL, contributes to clogged arteries which increases the risk of heart attack and stroke.

The findings showed that compared with participants who had LDL readings of under 100 mg/dL, those with LDL levels in the range of 100-159 mg/dL had a 30 to 40 per cent higher risk of cardiovascular disease death.