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Low density lipoproteins (LDL) are known as bad cholesterol because they cause fats to build up in blood vessels. High levels can cause diseases of the arteries and heart.
High density lipoproteins (HDL) are known as good cholesterol because they can remove fats from the blood and protect against disease.

High cholesterol increases your risk of stroke and heart disease.

Causes

Causes of high cholesterol include:

Genetics
A high fat diet
Excess weight
An inactive lifestyle

Risk Factors

The risk of high cholesterol increases with age. It is more common in men. It is also more common in women after menopause.

Factors that may increase your risk of high cholesterol include:

Family members with high cholesterol
A high fat diet
Excess weight
An inactive lifestyle

Symptoms

High cholesterol does not usually cause symptoms. However, it can increase your risk of atherosclerosis. This can block the flow of blood with a fatty buildup known as plaque. Cholesterol deposits may also form in tendons, under the eyes, or in the eye.

Other factors that may increase your risk include:

Some people with high cholesterol may also have cholesterol deposits in tendons, under the eyes, or in the eye.

Atherosclerosis

Diagnosis

Cholesterol screening is done as part of your regular exam. You will be asked about factors that may increase your risk of heart disease or stroke.

A blood test will be done to measure fat levels in your blood. Tests may include:

Total cholesterol
HDL cholesterol
LDL cholesterol
Triglycerides

Treatment

Talk to your doctor about the best treatment plan for you. You will need to decrease your LDL levels to lower your risk of heart disease and stroke. Options include:

Diet Changes

You will need to reduce fat in your diet to decrease your LDL levels. Talk to your doctor about the best diet for you. In general:

Balance the calories you eat with the calories you use through physical activity. This will help you reach or maintain a healthy weight.
Eat a diet that is high in fruits and vegetables.
Include foods that are whole grain and high in fiber.
Eat fish at least twice a week.
Eat low-fat dairy products.
Limit red meat and sugary foods and beverages.
Choose and prepare foods with little or no salt.
Consider drinking green or black tea. These teas have been shown to help reduce cholesterol.
If you drink alcohol, drink in moderation. This means no more than 1 drink per day for women and 2 drinks per day for men.

Lifestyle Changes

Things you do throughout the day can help you lower your cholesterol:

HDL removes fat from the blood. You can raise your HDL through activity. Talk to your doctor about which exercise program is right for you.
Smoking lowers HDL. If you smoke, talk to your doctor about ways to quit.
Excess weight raises your LDL and lowers your HDL. If you are overweight, talk to your doctor about ways to lose weight safely.

Treat and control any other medical conditions you have, such as high blood pressure and diabetes.

Cholesterol-Lowering Medicine

Statins are a medicine that may help lower your cholesterol and reduce your risk of heart attack and stroke.

Statins work best when you also eat healthy and exercise. They should not be used in place of healthy lifestyle changes.

Prevention

To help reduce your chances of high cholesterol, follow the lifestyle and diet changes above.

Some cholesterol issues are due to genetics. These are harder to prevent. Many are linked to diet and lifestyle. Changes to these can help reduce your chances of high cholesterol.

RESOURCES:

American Heart Association
http://www.heart.org

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov

CANADIAN RESOURCES:

Dietitians of Canada
https://www.dietitians.ca

Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada
http://www.heartandstroke.ca

References:

Cholesterol. American Heart Association website. Available at:
...(Click grey area to select URL)
Accessed March 26, 2018.

High blood cholesterol. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute website. Available at: https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/high-blood-cholesterol. Accessed March 26, 2018.

Hypercholesterolemia. EBSCO DynaMed Plus website. Available at: http://www.dynamed... . Updated March 5, 2018. Accessed March 26, 2018.

12/14/2009 DynaMed Plus Systematic Literature Surveillance http://www.dynamed... : Ferdowsian HR, Barnard ND. Effects of plant-based diets on plasma lipids. Am J Cardiol. 2009;104(7):947-956.

8/27/2013 DynaMed Plus Systematic Literature Surveillance http://www.dynamed... : Hartley L, Flowers N, Holmes J, et al. Green and black tea for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013;6:CD009934.

Last reviewed March 2018 by EBSCO Medical Review Board Marcin Chwistek, MD
Last Updated: 4/4/2018

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