Cholesterol is a waxy substance found in your blood’s fats (lipids). While cholesterol is essential to continue building healthy cells, having high cholesterol can pose several health problems, including an increased risk of heart disease.

When you have high cholesterol, you may develop fatty deposits in your blood vessels. Eventually, these deposits become thick enough, making it difficult for enough blood to flow through your arteries. Your heart may not get as much oxygen-rich blood as it needs, which increases the risk of a heart attack. Decreased blood flow to your brain can cause a stroke.

You may inherit high cholesterol, but most cases result from unhealthy lifestyle choices, making it preventable and treatable. A healthy diet, regular exercise, and medication (if needed) can go a long way toward reducing high cholesterol.

How Are You Diagnosed With High Cholesterol

For an accurate diagnosis, you will take a cholesterol test or screening. This test will require a simple blood draw. The test will measure your low-density lipoprotein (LDL) or “bad” cholesterol, which is responsible for the obstruction buildup in your blood vessels that may lead to a stroke or heart attack.

If your total cholesterol level is between 200 and 239 mg/dL, it is considered “borderline high.” That means you are now on the verge of having hyperlipidemia (lifestyle changes are a must at this stage). So 240 mg/dL and above means you have high cholesterol and require medication and lifestyle changes.

If your LDL (bad cholesterol) is between 130 and 159 mg/dL, it is considered “borderline high.” If it’s 160 mg/dL or higher, you also have high cholesterol, even if your overall cholesterol level did not reach 240 mg/dL.

High cholesterol typically doesn’t cause any symptoms. In most cases, it only causes emergency events. For instance, a heart attack or stroke can result from the damage caused by high cholesterol.

These emergencies typically don’t occur until high cholesterol leads to plaque formation (cholesterol buildup) in your arteries. Plaque from high cholesterol can narrow arteries so less blood can pass through. The formation of plaque changes the makeup of your arterial lining. This change could lead to serious complications.

A blood test is the only way to know if your cholesterol is too high. That means having a total blood cholesterol level above 240 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL). 

Ask your doctor to give you a cholesterol test after you turn 20 years old. Then get your cholesterol rechecked every 4 to 6 years.

Your doctor may also suggest you check your cholesterol more frequently if you have a family history of high cholesterol. Or if you demonstrate the following risk factors:

• Have high blood pressure
• Are overweight
• Smoke
• Works in a high-stress environment
• Are alcoholic

Other Medical Conditions That Raise Your Risk of High Cholesterol

Consult your physician on your risk for high cholesterol if you have any of the following conditions:

• HIV infection
• Lupus erythematosus
• Overweight and obesity
• Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
• Sleep apnea
• Chronic kidney disease
• Diabetes
• Hypothyroidism

In patients with lupus and HIV, the disease itself and the medication used to treat it may contribute to high cholesterol levels.

High cholesterol can cause plaque to build up in your arteries if left untreated. Over time, this plaque can narrow your arteries. This condition is known as atherosclerosis.

Atherosclerosis is a serious condition. It can limit the flow of blood through your arteries. It also raises your risk of developing dangerous blood clots.

Atherosclerosis can result in many life-threatening complications, such as:

• Stroke
• Heart attack
• Angina (chest pain)
• High blood pressure
• Peripheral vascular disease
• Chronic kidney disease

High cholesterol can also create a bile imbalance, raising your risk of gallstones. See the other ways that high cholesterol can impact your body.

High cholesterol can be lowered or prevented in two ways. One is through medication, and the other is through lifestyle change. Therapists or family doctors may prescribe either of the two options or a mix of both.

Medications for High Cholesterol

Statins are the most commonly prescribed medications for high cholesterol. They block your liver from producing more cholesterol.

Examples of statins include:

• Atorvastatin (Lipitor)
• Fluvastatin (Lescol)
• Rosuvastatin (Crestor)
• Simvastatin (Zocor)

Your doctor may also prescribe other medications for high cholesterol, such as:

• Niacin
• Bile acid resins or sequestrants, such as colesevelam (Welchol), colestipol (Colestid), or cholestyramine (Prevalite)
• Cholesterol absorption inhibitors, such as ezetimibe (Zetia)

Some products contain a combination of drugs to help decrease your body’s absorption of cholesterol from foods and reduce your liver’s production of cholesterol. One example is a combination of ezetimibe and simvastatin (Vytorin).

Lowering Cholesterol levels Through Diet

To help you achieve and maintain healthy cholesterol levels, our family doctors at Highland Family Medicine may recommend changes to your diet.

For example, they may advise you to:

• Limit your intake of foods that are high in cholesterol, saturated fats, and trans fats
• Choose lean sources of protein, such as chicken, fish, and legumes
• Eat a wide variety of high-fiber foods, such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains
• Opt for baked, broiled, steamed, grilled, and roasted foods instead of fried foods
• Avoid fast food and junk food

Foods that are high in cholesterol, saturated fats, or trans fats include:

• Red meat, organ meats, egg yolks, and high-fat dairy products
• Processed foods made with cocoa butter, palm oil, or coconut oil
• Deep-fried foods, such as potato chips, onion rings, and fried chicken
• Certain baked goods, such as some cookies and muffins

Eating fish and other foods that contain omega-3 fatty acids may also help lower your LDL levels. For example, salmon, mackerel, and herring are rich sources of omega-3s. Walnuts, almonds, ground flax seeds, and avocados also contain omega-3s.