What high cholesterol means for you
High Cholesterol
Understanding cholesterol and why it matters
Cholesterol is a natural fatty substance found in your blood. Your body makes cholesterol in the liver, and it’s also found in some foods. It plays an important role in keeping your cells, hormones, and vitamin D levels healthy.
However, too much cholesterol in the blood—called high cholesterol—can increase the risk of heart disease, heart attack, and stroke. This happens because excess cholesterol can build up in the walls of your arteries, narrowing them and making it harder for blood to flow.
Who is affected?
Anyone can develop high cholesterol. It is influenced by both factors you can control and those you cannot:
Things you can control
Eating too much saturated fat, which reduces the liver’s ability to remove cholesterol from the blood
Being physically inactive
Smoking, which damages your blood vessels and encourages cholesterol buildup
Carrying excess weight, especially around your middle
Things you cannot control
Age: cholesterol levels tend to rise as we get older
Sex: men are more likely to have higher cholesterol at a younger age
Menopause: cholesterol levels often increase during and after menopause
Family history: some inherited conditions can cause very high cholesterol
Gender identity: some transgender individuals may have higher cardiovascular risk
Other health conditions such as type 2 diabetes, kidney or liver disease, and an underactive thyroid can also increase cholesterol levels.
Types of cholesterol
Cholesterol travels in your blood attached to proteins, forming lipoproteins. The main types are:
High-density lipoproteins (HDL) – “good” cholesterol
HDL helps remove excess cholesterol from your blood and takes it back to the liver to be broken down and eliminated. Higher HDL levels help protect your heart.
Low-density and non-HDL cholesterol – “bad” cholesterol
These types of cholesterol can build up in your arteries, forming fatty deposits (plaques) that narrow blood vessels and increase the risk of heart attack and stroke.
Triglycerides
These are another type of fat in the blood. High levels, often caused by excess weight, a high-fat or sugary diet, or too much alcohol, can also contribute to artery narrowing.
Symptoms
High cholesterol usually has no symptoms. It is often only detected through a blood test. Rarely, inherited conditions like familial hypercholesterolemia can cause:
Xanthomas: fatty deposits on tendons, knuckles, or knees
Xanthelasmas: yellow lumps near the corners of the eyes
Corneal arcus: a white ring around the iris
Diagnosis
A cholesterol blood test, also called a lipid profile, measures your levels of:
Total cholesterol
LDL (bad) cholesterol
HDL (good) cholesterol
Triglycerides
We may also consider other factors like blood pressure, family history, diabetes, and overall cardiovascular risk.
Treatment and management
Lifestyle changes are the first step in controlling cholesterol:
Eat a heart-healthy diet: Reduce saturated and trans fats, eat more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids
Exercise regularly: Aim for at least 30 minutes most days; even short walks or cycling can help
Quit smoking: Improves blood vessel health and raises HDL cholesterol
Lose excess weight: Even modest weight loss can improve cholesterol levels
Limit alcohol: Drink in moderation, if at all
Medications may be recommended if lifestyle changes are not enough, or if you are at higher risk of heart disease. The most common are statins, which reduce LDL cholesterol and lower the risk of heart attack and stroke.
Living with high cholesterol
Even without symptoms, controlling cholesterol is crucial for long-term heart health. Regular check-ups, blood tests, and following your treatment plan can reduce your risk of serious complications. Lifestyle changes, combined with medications if needed, can significantly improve your heart health and help you live a longer, healthier life.