High cholesterol
High cholesterol
Overview
Cholesterol is a fatty substance that’s produced in the liver. It’s also in some foods that we eat. The body needs a certain amount of cholesterol to function normally.
Cholesterol combines with proteins to be carried around the blood. This combination is known as lipoproteins.
There are 2 main types of lipoprotein.
High-density lipoprotein (HDL) carries cholesterol away from the cells and back to the liver to be removed. For this reason, HDL is referred to as ‘good cholesterol’ and higher levels of this type are better.
Non-HDL lipoproteins are known as ‘bad cholesterol’. This is because it can build up in blood vessel walls if there’s too much.
Effects of high cholesterol
Non-HDL lipoproteins can build up in blood vessel walls and cause atherosclerosis. This is a gradual build up of fatty substances that causes a narrowing of the arteries. This affects blood flow and can lead to:
- heart disease
- strokes
- peripheral arterial disease (PAD)
Other risk factors for cardiovascular disease include high blood pressure.
What are healthy cholesterol levels?
This information is just a guide to healthy cholesterol levels. What matters is your overall risk of cardiovascular disease. This is assessed by considering your cholesterol levels alongside other things like:
- your age
- whether you smoke
- whether you have high blood pressure
- if you have a family history of cardiovascular disease
Blood cholesterol is measured in units called millimoles per litre of blood. This is often shortened to mmol/L.
A healthy level of:
- total cholesterol – is below 5mmol/L
- HDL (good cholesterol) – is above 1.0mmol/L for men or above 1.2mmol/L for women
- non-HDL (bad cholesterol) – is below 4mmol/L
Speak to your healthcare professional if you’re worried about your cholesterol level.
Common Symptoms
Symptom information is not available for this condition yet.
⚠️ This symptom list is for educational purposes. Having these symptoms does not mean you have this condition. See a doctor for proper diagnosis.
Medicines Commonly Used
⚠️ These medicines are commonly used for confirmed diagnoses of this condition. This is NOT a recommendation or prescription. Treatment must be determined by your doctor.
No medicines have been linked to this condition yet.
Causes
What causes high cholesterol?
There are many things that can influence your chance of developing high cholesterol. Some of these you have control over and some of these you don’t.
For example, the chance of developing high cholesterol is increased by certain lifestyle factors. These are sometimes called controllable risk factors. This includes your diet, level of physical activity and smoking habits.
Things that influence high cholesterol that you can’t change include:
- age
- being male
- ethnicity
There’s also an inherited condition called familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH). An inherited condition means that it can be passed through families by faulty genes. This can cause high cholesterol even in people who follow a healthy lifestyle.
Diagnosis
High cholesterol usually doesn't cause any symptoms on its own, so the only way to know your levels is to get tested.
Your healthcare professional may recommend a cholesterol test if they think you could be at risk of cardiovascular disease.
If your results show high cholesterol, your healthcare professional will talk you through ways to bring it down. This may include changes to your diet or medicine to help manage it.
Treatment
Lifestyle changes can help bring your cholesterol level down. These include:
- eating a healthy, balanced diet
- exercising regularly
- stopping smoking
- drinking less alcohol
If lifestyle changes alone aren't enough, medication may help. Statins are the medicines most commonly used for high cholesterol, though a few other types are also available. Your healthcare professional will let you know if you need one of these and which would suit you best.
For more practical tips on lowering your cholesterol, you can also check the British Heart Foundation's guidance.
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