MORE Brits should take statins from a younger age to lower their risk of dying from heart disease in later life, a study says.

Patients were up to 90 per cent more likely to die from a heart attack or stroke if they had high levels of bad cholesterol in their 30s or 40s.

Researchers say those affected could lower their risk by adopting a healthy lifestyle or taking cholesterol-busting pills.They analysed data on 36,375 otherwise healthy people, with an average age of 42, and tracked them for 27 years.

Those with a high level were 70 to 90 per cent more likely to die than those with low readings, the study in Texas found.

Most of the 8million patients on statins in England are aged 45 to 64. They help to clear the artery-clogging substance and keep the blood flowing freely.

Study leader Dr Shuaib Abdullah advised people get their cholesterol checked from the age of 20 and adopt a healthier lifestyle if high.

This includes limiting saturated fat intake, maintaining a healthy weight, stopping smoking and doing more exercise. The medic, from University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, said they may also benefit from taking the cholesterol-busting tablets.

Dr Abdullah added: “Trials demonstrate that having lower cholesterol levels at an earlier age results in a greater magnitude of benefits, compared to attempting to lower cholesterol at an older age

“But even after the discussion of risks and benefits of treatment, an individual may not feel that the benefits are worth taking a pill every day for such a long period for primary prevention purposes.”