A simple guide to what changed, why it matters, and how to protect your heart Heart disease is still the number‑one cause of death in the United States. The American Heart Association (AHA) and American College of Cardiology (ACC) released new cholesterol (dyslipidemia) guidelines in 2026 to help people lower their risk earlier and more effectively. These new guidelines replace the 2018 cholesterol guidelines and include major updates based on the latest science.