High cholesterol is a condition that occurs when the levels of cholesterol in your blood are elevated enough to cause medical problems, including heart disease and stroke. If you have high total cholesterol due to a high level of LDL, you could be at high risk for heart disease or stroke.
Having high blood cholesterol increases the risk of heart disease, the leading cause of death, and stroke, the fifth leading cause of death. The reason why is that cholesterol builds up on your artery walls, restricting the flow of blood to your heart, brain, and other parts of your body.
Cholesterol plaques narrow the arteries, limit your blood flow, and increase the risk of blood clots. High levels of bad LDL cholesterol cause plaque (fatty deposits) to build up in your blood vessels.
High cholesterol has also been linked to peripheral arterial disease (PAD), which refers to diseases of the blood vessels that are outside of your heart and brain.
Type 2 diabetes is another disorder linked to high cholesterol, as diabetes may affect various levels of cholesterol. Also, high cholesterol is one of the many factors working together that can lead to cardiovascular disease, together with elements like high blood pressure, diabetes, smoking, and inactivity.
A high level of cholesterol in your blood does not have any noticeable symptoms, but it may raise your risk of conditions that do have symptoms, including angina (chest pain caused by heart disease), high blood pressure, stroke, and other circulatory diseases.
The buildup may lead to a heart attack, stroke, or other health problems. High levels of good HDL cholesterol can actually reduce your risk for health problems. A high good cholesterol level (HDL) can help to keep this bad (non-HDL) cholesterol in check.
Studies show that LDL cholesterol increases and the risk for heart disease may increase if you substitute carbohydrates for fats or omega-6s. Because evidence shows high triglycerides predict cardiovascular risk, omega-3 fats have long been considered heart-healthy, and studies have shown eating fish one to three times per week has protective effects against heart Disease.
Omega-3 fish oils are not shown to reduce total cholesterol levels, and in small doses, they do not reduce cardiovascular risk and mortality for people without elevated triglycerides. Causes of high cholesterol Eating too many foods high in cholesterol, saturated fats, and trans fats can raise the risk that you will have high cholesterol.
If other lifestyle changes have not reduced your cholesterol levels, and you still have a high risk of developing heart disease, your doctor may prescribe you a cholesterol-lowering medicine, such as a statin. Your child’s provider may wish your child took a cholesterol medicine if the lifestyle changes did not work.
Your provider also might recommend more frequent tests if you have a family history of high cholesterol, heart disease, or other risk factors, like diabetes or high blood pressure. If you are at risk for high cholesterol or coronary heart disease, your doctor is likely to recommend that you have your cholesterol tested regularly.
