Causes of high cholesterol

Cholesterol is carried in the blood and used for important body functions. A blood test measures different types, including LDL and HDL, alongside triglycerides. An inherited tendency can raise LDL even when someone eats thoughtfully. Saturated fat, low activity, excess weight, diabetes, thyroid problems, kidney disease, and some medicines can also influence the result. High cholesterol often causes no noticeable symptoms, so a test is needed to identify it. Over time, cholesterol can contribute to fatty deposits in artery walls, which may raise the risk of angina, peripheral arterial disease, or stroke.

Arrange a clinician review of the full lipid profile and your personal risk factors. Ask whether the test needs repeating and whether another condition or medicine could be contributing. Meals built around vegetables, pulses, whole grains, fish, and unsaturated fats can help, while regular movement and avoiding tobacco support artery health. A nutrition counselling appointment may make changes more realistic. If lifestyle measures do not lower risk enough, a clinician may discuss statin therapy; do not stop a prescribed medicine without advice.

High cholesterol itself is usually silent and is not an emergency. Seek urgent help for chest pressure, severe breathlessness, sudden weakness on one side, facial drooping, or difficulty speaking. These symptoms can signal angina or stroke and need immediate assessment, regardless of your cholesterol result.

What do my LDL, HDL, and triglyceride results show? Could family history, another condition, or a medicine be affecting them? When should I repeat the cholesterol test? Would nutrition counselling or statin therapy suit my risk profile?