Symptoms of high cholesterol
High cholesterol doesn’t have obvious symptoms. Getting your levels checked regularly is the only way to know if you have it.
What is considered high for cholesterol?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a total cholesterol level higher than 200 milligrams per deciliter (200 mg/dL) is generally considered high.
What are the complications of high cholesterol?
If untreated high cholesterol, or hyperlipidemia, can lead to the accumulation of plaque in your body's blood vessels (atherosclerosis), resulting in complications such as:
- Heart attack
- Stroke
- Coronary heart disease
- Carotid artery disease
- Sudden cardiac arrest
- Peripheral artery disease
- Microvascular disease
What causes high cholesterol?
You can develop high cholesterol for many reasons, some of which you can control and some you can’t.
Your lifestyle has a significant impact on your cholesterol levels, and these habits can lead to unhealthy levels:
- Smoking
- A diet high in saturated fat, trans fats, cholesterol, sugar and alcohol
- Not exercising enough
Finally, conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes can increase your risk for high cholesterol.
Risk factors for high cholesterol that are beyond your control
- Age: Cholesterol levels tend to be higher in people older than age 65.
- Family history: A family history of high cholesterol makes you more likely to have it yourself. Having a family member with a history of heart attack, heart disease or atherosclerosis also increases your risk.
- Sex: Men have lower levels of “good” cholesterol, and women tend to get higher levels of “bad” cholesterol around age 55 (or around the onset of menopause).
You can manage high cholesterol with a heart-healthy lifestyle
Cholesterol is a waxy substance in the blood that is made by the liver. Some cholesterol is healthy, but too much in the blood can build up in your arteries and form plaque. Over time, this plaque buildup (known as atherosclerosis) can lead to heart disease. It can also break off and cause a blood clot, causing a heart attack or stroke.
Having healthy cholesterol levels prevents those health problems. You can manage cholesterol levels with a heart-healthy lifestyle, medications or a combination of both.
How to diagnose high cholesterol
Your doctor can diagnose you with high cholesterol using a simple blood test called a lipid profile. For this test, a sample of your blood will be taken and sent to a lab where it’s measured for total cholesterol, HDL, LDL and triglycerides.
- Total cholesterol: This is the total amount of cholesterol in your blood. The higher the number, the more likely it is that cholesterol is affecting your health.
- High-density lipoprotein (HDL): Known as the “good” cholesterol, HDL carries excess cholesterol out of the blood.
- Low-density lipoprotein (LDL): Known as the “bad” cholesterol, LDL can stick to blood vessel walls, reducing or blocking blood flow.
- Triglycerides: These are a type of fat in the blood that your body uses for energy when needed.
Your doctor takes your current health, existing health conditions and other factors into consideration when determining whether you have high cholesterol.
Lowering high cholesterol
Lowering and managing cholesterol can include both lifestyle changes and medication. The exact treatment plan your doctor develops for you will consider other factors, including any family history, age and your lifestyle.
Find a location near you
If you need additional help protecting your heart from high cholesterol, the cardiologists at Baylor Scott & White can help. You can find a cardiologist at our many locations throughout Central or North Texas.
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