Everything You Need To Know About High Cholesterol

By Jani Hall

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High cholesterol, or hyperlipidemia, refers to an above-normal level of cholesterol circulating in the blood. Cholesterol is a fatty substance that your liver and intestines produce to build cells and help with functions such as hormone production and digestion.1 You only need the amount your body produces, but factors such as diet and genes can cause your body to make more cholesterol than it needs.

 

Nearly 40% of adults in the U.S. have high cholesterol.2 Among U.S. children ages 6-19,

almost 7% have high cholesterol.

 

Having high cholesterol increases your risk of developing serious health problems over time. Fortunately, you can take steps to prevent too much cholesterol from flowing through your blood. If you already have high cholesterol, making certain lifestyle changes or taking medication may help lower it

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High Cholesterol Symptoms

High cholesterol itself usually doesn't have any symptoms. Instead, you may eventually experience symp-

toms from complications of the condition.Over time, excess cholesterol joins with other substances to form thick deposits called plaque on the inside of arteries. This build-up is a condition called atherosclerosis. The build-up in the arteries can form clots, which may block blood flow to the heart, brain, and tissues in the arms and legs.

 

Your exact symptoms will depend on the location of the artery that's blocked, but in general a blocked artery may cause:4

 

• Shortness of breath

• Chest pain, also called angina

• Heart attack

• Stroke

• Leg pain or cramping

 

In rare instances, people with high cholesterol may develop soft, yellowish cholesterol deposits on the skin called xanthomas. Another sign of high cholesterol may be found in your eye. Some children with high cholesterol may have arcus juvenilis, which is a light gray or blueish ring made of mostly cholesterol around their iris.

 

How Is High Cholesterol Diagnosed?

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The only way to diagnose high cholesterol is through a blood test called a lipid panel. A healthcare provider will draw a sample of blood from your arm or finger. This test may require fasting beforehand for up to 12 hours. The blood test measures several aspects of your blood, including your blood's levels of two types of lipoproteins, which are proteins that carry cholesterol throughout the body. A lipid panel will reveal the following numbers relating to your cholesterol:

 

• Low-density lipoprotein (LDL): This is often called the “bad” cholesterol because it’s the type that forms plaque

inside the arteries. Levels should be below 100 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL).

 

• High-density lipoprotein (HDL): Referred to as the “good” cholesterol, this type moves extra cholesterol to your

liver so that it can rid your body of it. Optimal levels are at least 40mg/dL for men and at least 50mg/dL for women.

 

• Triglycerides: Theses are another type of fat in the blood that can thicken artery walls. Your triglycerides should

be below 150mg/dL.4

 

• Total cholesterol: This is the amount of cholesterol circulating in your blood. The level is determined by the following formula: HDL+LDL+20% of your triglycerides.

 

Healthcare providers will generally diagnose you with high cholesterol if your total cholesterol number is above 240mg/dL. A level of 200mg/dL to 239mg/dL is considered borderline high.

 

What Causes High Cholesterol?

High cholesterol occurs when too much cholesterol circulates in the blood. This can happen for reasons within yourcontrol, such as lifestyle choices, or outside of your control, like family history. Lifestyle choices include smoking, which can lower HDL, and not exercising, which can lead to weight gain and, in turn, a subsequent rise in LDL 10.

 

Eating foods high in trans fats and saturated fats also contributes to high cholesterol by increasing the liver's production of LDL. Examples of foods high in trans fats include:

 

• Fried foods

• Some meats, such as bacon and sausage

• Dairy products, such as cheese and ice cream

• Butter

• Baked goods

 

Sometimes the development of high cholesterol is out of your control. Some people have an inherited condition called familial hypercholesterolemia, which impacts the body’s ability to get rid of cholesterol. These people have high cholesterol at birth. Other people aren’t born with high cholesterol but are at higher risk for developing it because it runs in their family.

 

Additional risk factors of high cholesterol include:

• Aging

• Being a woman who's gone through menopause

• Having certain conditions like type 2 diabetes or kidney disease

Taking certain medications, such as beta blockers and certain birth control pills