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Overview
What is cholesterol?
Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance found in your cells that plays essential roles in making hormones, vitamin D and substances needed for digestion.
While your body naturally produces the cholesterol it needs, it is also carried through the bloodstream by lipoproteins. There are two main types of lipoproteins: high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL).
Understanding Cholesterol Types
Good cholesterol
High-density lipoprotein known as “good” cholesterol, helps remove excess cholesterol from your bloodstream, which lowers the risk of arterial blockages.
Bad cholesterol
Low-density lipoprotein, or “bad” cholesterol, can lead to plaque buildup in arteries, increasing the risk of heart attack, stroke, and other cardiovascular problems. LDL can accumulate in artery walls, causing narrowing or blockages that lead to cardiovascular issues.
Triglycerides
Triglycerides are another type of fat in the blood, used for energy. High levels, especially when combined with low HDL, increase heart attack and stroke risk.
What increases the risk of high cholesterol?
Age, sex and family history
- Age: LDL levels often rise with age
- Genetics: Family history of high cholesterol can affect how your body manages LDL levels.
- Sex: Men typically have higher cholesterol until women reach menopause, after which their risk increases.
Lifestyle choices:
Lifestyle choices can can raise LDL and lower HDL.
- Diet
- Smoking
- Alcohol use
- Stress
- Physical inactivity
Medical conditions & medications that negatively affect cholesterol levels
- Diabetes
- Chronic kidney disease
- Hypothyroidism
- Obesity
- Medications: Some medications may also impact cholesterol, raising LDL or lowering HDL.
How doctors diagnose high cholesterol
High cholesterol often has no symptoms, so routine blood tests, called lipid profiles, are crucial for detection. These tests measure total cholesterol, LDL, HDL and triglycerides. Screening frequency varies by age, risk factors and family history:
- Children: Testing is recommended if there is a family history of high cholesterol or other risk factors.
- Adults: Testing every 4-6 years is standard, with more frequent testing for those with known cardiovascular risks.
How to lower your cholesterol
Cholesterol management is crucial for heart health. Regular testing, healthy lifestyle choices, and, when necessary, medication can help maintain healthy cholesterol levels, reducing the risk of heart attack, stroke and other complications. Making small, consistent changes to diet, exercise and daily habits can significantly impact your overall health and well-being.
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Medication
If you make healthy lifestyle changes and your cholesterol levels are still high, your healthcare provider may prescribe medicine to help lower your LDL or “bad” cholesterol. Even if you take cholesterol medicine, keep up your healthy lifestyle changes. The combination of the medicine and heart-healthy lifestyle changes can help lower and control your cholesterol levels.
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Lifestyle changes
- Heart-healthy diet: Adopt dietary plans like the Mediterranean diet or the DASH diet, which emphasize fruits, vegetables, whole grains and healthy fats while limiting saturated fats and refined sugars.
- Regular physical activity: Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week to help raise HDL and lower LDL and triglycerides.
- Healthy weight: Achieving a BMI within the healthy range (18.5-24.9) can improve cholesterol levels.
- Stress management: Chronic stress can raise LDL and lower HDL, so finding ways to manage stress is beneficial.
- Smoking and alcohol: Quitting smoking improves HDL levels, and limiting alcohol intake can help manage total cholesterol.
High cholesterol treatment near you
Cardiology services at Ballad Health
Our extensive network of highly trained cardiologists, surgeons and advanced practice providers are here to support you and help you navigate a heart-related diagnosis.
Learn more about heart and vascular services at Ballad Health.
CVA Heart Institute Learning Center
We understand that receiving a high choleserol diagnosis can be overwhelming. Our goal is to alleviate your fears and help you to understand your condition.
We have an informational video library, education tools and heart-related FAQs so that you have the resources you need.
Heart care patient stories
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Read our patient stories
Our patients inspire us every day, and we’re honored when they trust us with their care. They tell their stories best, so we’ve gathered a few here to share with you.
Many of these patients received life-saving care for heart conditions when they weren’t experiencing any symptoms. These experiences have changed they way they look at their individual care and helped them see the importance of regular preventive screenings.