You have this condition if there are high levels of cholesterol in the blood. There are three parts of cholesterol:
- Low density lipoproteins (LDL)—known as bad cholesterol. It causes build up of cholesterol and other fats in the blood vessels. High LDL levels can cause artery and heart disease.
- High density lipoproteins (HDL)—known as good cholesterol. It can remove cholesterol and other fats from the blood vessels. High levels of HDL can protect against heart disease.
- Triglycerides—a common form of fat in the body. Often elevated in people with diabetes or certain genetic conditions.
- Particles—proteins associated with certain types of cholesterols in the body. These may be a better signal about your risk of developing disease in the blood vessels.
Causes of high cholesterol include:
These factors increase your chance of high cholesterol:
- Age: cholesterol levels tend to rise with age
-
Sex:
- Family members with high cholesterol
- High-fat diet
- Obesity, overweight
- Sedentary lifestyle
The condition itself will rarely cause any symptoms. If not treated, it often leads to
atherosclerosis
. This is a dangerous hardening of the arteries. It can end up blocking blood flow through arteries. In severe cases, this may result in:
If you have an inherited form of high cholesterol, cholesterol deposits in the:
- Tendons
- Under the eyes
- Around the cornea
The doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history. A physical exam will be done. These
tests
are used to measure the cholesterol levels in your blood:
Blood test to measure:
- Total cholesterol
- HDL cholesterol
- LDL cholesterol
- Triglycerides
Treatment may include:
-
Eat a
low-fat, low-cholesterol diet
. Eat
high-fiber
food.
-
Begin a safe
exercise program
with the advice of your doctor.
-
If you smoke,
quit.
-
If you are overweight,
lose weight.
- Avoid processed and refined sugars and starches (white bread, white potatoes, white rice and simple sugars)
- Drink alcohol in moderation. This means two drinks per day for men, and one drink per day for women.
If diet and exercise do not work, you may need medication. Examples include:
Statins
are often prescribed for high cholesterol. They have been shown to reduce mortality (death),
heart attacks, and stroke. Ezetimibe has reduced plaque in arteries. However, it has not been shown to reduce mortality.
Some may have a high risk for
coronary artery disease. In this case, combination therapy may be needed to lower LDL.
To help reduce your chance of getting high cholesterol, follow the
lifestyle changes
above. Work with your doctor to monitor and control your cholesterol levels.
Last reviewed November 2009
Copyright © EBSCO Publishing. All rights reserved.
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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