High cholesterol FAQs

1. What is cholesterol?
2. Why is high cholesterol bad?
3. How is high cholesterol diagnosed?
4. What is a healthy cholesterol level?
5. How dangerous is high cholesterol?
6. What causes high cholesterol?
7. What are the symptoms of high cholesterol?
8. Who is most at risk of developing high cholesterol?
9. How do you treat is high cholesterol?
10. How can high cholesterol be prevented?

What is cholesterol?

Cholesterol is a fatty, almost waxy substance that is found in the human body. It involved in very important functions within the body such as insulating nerve fibres, synthesis of sex hormones, bile production, conversion on the sun's rays to vitamin D and it also makes out an important structural part of every single cell.

Cholesterol is mostly produced by the liver from the carbohydrates we consume, however a small amount can also come from foods that are naturally high in cholesterol such as eggs, shellfish or offal.

Why is high cholesterol bad?

Although cholesterol is extremely important in the every-day function of the human body, too much can also present a problem. If there is an abundance of cholesterol being transported towards cells and it's not being used, it can result in a build-up of the lipids within the blood vessels, which can cause many other health issues.

HDL and LDL are lipoproteins that transport cholesterol to body cells and from body cells to the liver. LDL takes cholesterol to body cells and having more LDL ('bad cholesterol') and triglycerides than is healthy can be cause for concern, especially if HDL, which transports cholesterol back to the liver, isn't present in sufficient Quantities.

How is high cholesterol diagnosed?

A doctor will look at the number of HDL, LDL and triglycerides in the blood, but will also look at your overall health and other risk factors. If your cholesterol level is 6 mmol/liter or higher, it's generally a cause for concern

What is a healthy cholesterol level?

Ideally you cholesterol levels should be 5mmol/litre or less.

How dangerous is high cholesterol?

High cholesterol isn't a disease on its own but it's a risk factor for many other serious health problems, which include atherosclerosis (narrowing of the arteries), coronary heart disease, heart attack, stroke, mini stroke, angina and other cardiovascular issues.

What causes high cholesterol?

High cholesterol can be the result of many different factors, but it's most likely to be caused by lifestyle, such as a level of physical activity, smoking, high levels of alcohol use and an unhealthy diet high in foods containing saturated fats.

High cholesterol could also be the result of an existing health condition. Conditions that is notorious for increasing LDL levels in the blood includes high blood pressure (hypertension), kidney disease, liver disease, thyroid problems or diabetes.

Other issues that could influence a person's likelihood of developing high cholesterol are age, genetic factors, gender or ethnicity. These factors can't be changed, which is why people that fall within high risk groups should be extra vigilant about monitoring their cholesterol.

What are the symptoms of high cholesterol?

Many people with high cholesterol don't know they have it, because it's unlikely to cause symptoms straight away. It's not until later, when it's started to cause other conditions such as atherosclerosis that people notice something isn't right. This is why it's extremely important that you go to your doctor for regular check-ups, especially if you fall within a high risk group.

Who is most at risk of developing high cholesterol?

Experts recommend that people, who are over 40, have cholesterol in their families, have high blood pressures, diabetes, thyroid problems, kidney disease, liver disease or obese get tested regularly.

How do you treat is high cholesterol?

Methods used to treat high cholesterol include lifestyle adjustments and prescription medications. It's more than likely that lifestyle changes will be recommended first and if they aren't successful or if a patient's health is in serious risk, prescription medications such as statins, aspirin, ezetimibe or a combination of these may be recommended.

How can high cholesterol be prevented?

Ensuring that you maintain a healthy diet, low in saturated fat, supplemented with enough exercise is one of the first preventative steps. Even those who are at an increased risk could benefit from these steps if they are taken early on in life. It's also a good idea to get your cholesterol checked regularly, to ensure that any changes in your cholesterol levels are detected before it leads to other problems.