Cholesterol

“High cholesterol has no signs or symptoms,
so the only way to know if you have it
is to get your cholesterol checked”.1

Umbrella
What may the Cholesterol Umbrella include?

Depending on the Source (DotS) this Umbrella may include:

  • Bad Cholesterol (LDL)
  • Blood Cholesterol/Serum
  • Good Cholesterol (HDL)
  • High Density Lipoprotein (HDL) Cholesterol
  • Hyperlipidemia
  • Lipids
  • Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) Cholesterol
  • Total Cholesterol
  • Triglycerides

Definition

What is cholesterol?

DotS the definition of cholesterol may vary. The (United States) National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute’s definition is:

“Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that your body needs for good health, but in the right amounts. Unhealthy levels of cholesterol can lead to a condition called high blood cholesterol”.2

The National Heart Foundation of Australia’s (NHFA) definition is:

“Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance necessary to make hormones and vitamin D, and to help you digest food. Your body produces cholesterol, and it’s also in some foods.

The human body uses cholesterol to build cells, but too much can put you at risk of heart disease”.3

HDL

What is high-density lipoproteins (HDL)?

DotS the definition of HDL may vary. In High Cholesterol – Causes, Symptoms & Treatments: What Are the Types of Cholesterol? the British Heart Foundation’s (BHF) definition is:

“High-density lipoproteins or HDL is called ‘good’ cholesterol. This is because it gets rid of the ‘bad’ cholesterol from your blood. It takes cholesterol that you don’t need back to the liver. The liver breaks it down so it can be passed out of your body”.4

Non-HDL

What is non-high density liproteins (non-HDL)?

DotS the definition of non-HDL may vary. In High Cholesterol – Causes, Symptoms & Treatments: What Are the Types of Cholesterol? the BHF’s definition is:

“Non-high-density lipoproteins or non-HDL is called ‘bad’ cholesterol. This is because when there is too much of it, it can build up inside the walls of the blood vessels. This clogs them up causing narrowing of the arteries which increases your risk of having a heart attack or stroke”.5

LDL

What is low-density lipoprotein (LDL)?

DotS the definition of LDL may vary. In High Cholesterol – Causes, Symptoms & Treatments: What Are the Types of Cholesterol? the BHF explain:

“You may have also heard ‘bad’ cholesterol being called ‘LDL’ cholesterol. This was previously used as the main measure of bad cholesterol but we now know that other forms of non-HDL cholesterol are also harmful”.6

Triglycerides

What are triglycerides?

Dots the definition of triglycerides may vary. In Blood Cholesterol: Types of Cholesterol – Cholesterol and Triglycerides the NHFA explain:

“Triglycerides are the most common fat in the body. Being overweight, eating a lot of high fat and sugary foods, or drinking too much alcohol can increase your triglyceride levels.

High triglycerides, along with either increased LDL cholesterol or decreased HDL cholesterol can increase your chances of developing fatty build-ups in the arteries – and a higher risk of heart attack and stroke”.7

High Cholesterol

What is high cholesterol?

DotS the definition of high cholesterol may vary. In High Cholesterol – Causes, Symptoms & Treatments: What Is High Cholesterol? the BHF’s definition is:

“High cholesterol is when you have too much cholesterol in your blood. This can increase your risk of heart and circulatory diseases such as heart attack and stroke”.8

Symptoms

What are symptoms of high cholesterol?

In Cholesterol the (United States) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) note:

“High cholesterol has no signs or symptoms, so the only way to know if you have it is to get your cholesterol checked”.9

Cause

What causes high cholesterol?

In High Cholesterol – Causes, Symptoms & Treatments: What Causes High Cholesterol? the BHF explain:

“Anyone can get high cholesterol, and it can be caused by many different things. Some things you can control like lifestyle habits, others you can’t. As long as you take care of the things you can control, you’ll help lower your risk.

Things that cause high cholesterol you can control:

  • Eating too much saturated fat
  • Not being active enough
  • Having too much body fat especially around your middle.

Smoking can lead to high cholesterol levels, and the build-up of tar it causes in your arteries makes it easier for cholesterol to stick to your artery walls.

If you are overweight or have diabetes, you are at greater risk of having high cholesterol”.10

Common or Not

How common is high cholesterol?

According to the CDC:

“About 38% of American adults have high cholesterol (total blood cholesterol ≥ 200 mg/dL). Too much cholesterol puts you at risk for heart disease and stroke, two leading causes of death in the United States”.11

Heart Disease, Heart Attack and StrokeCholesterol

Is there an association between heart disease, heart attack and stroke and cholesterol?

In What Is Cholesterol? Why Cholesterol Matters the (United States) American Heart Association (AHA) explain:

“High cholesterol is one of the major controllable risk factors for coronary heart disease, heart attack and stroke. If you have other risk factors such as smoking, high blood pressure or diabetes, your risk increases even more”.12

Prevention

How may high cholesterol be prevented?

In Prevention and Treatment of High Cholesterol (Hyperlipidemia): Know Your Numbers. And What To Do About Them. the AHA elaborate on:

“Lifestyle changes include:

  • Eating a heart-healthy diet…
  • Becoming more physically active…
  • Quitting smoking…
  • Losing weight…”.13

CholesterolSources of Cholesterol

What are sources of cholesterol?

In Cholesterol: Summary – What Causes High Cholesterol? the (United States) MedlinePlus explain:

“The most common cause of high cholesterol is an unhealthy lifestyle. This can include:

  • Unhealthy eating habits, such as eating lots of bad fats. One type, saturated fat, is found in some meats, dairy products, chocolate, baked goods, and deep-fried and processed foods. Another type, trans fat, is in some fried and processed foods. Eating these fats can raise your LDL (bad) cholesterol
  • Lack of physical activity…
  • Smoking…”.14

Know Your Numbers

How important is it to know your numbers?

In Know Your Numbers They Could Just Save Your Life Go Red for Women explain:

“You can’t manage what you don’t measure, which is why knowing your risk is critical to preventing cardiovascular disease. And knowing your risk starts with knowing your numbers.

Talk to your healthcare provider today to learn about your Blood Pressure, Cholesterol, Blood Sugar and BMI (Body Mass Index). Your heart depends on it”.15

Health Care Provider

What if I think I have high cholesterol or I have a family history of high cholesterol?

If you think you have high cholesterol or you have a family history of high cholesterol it may be in your best interest to choose to talk to your health care provider about this.

In Prevention and Treatment of High Cholesterol (Hyperlipidema): Know Your Numbers. And What To Do About Them. the AHA explain:

“The good news is, high cholesterol can be lowered, reducing risk of heart disease and stroke. If you’re 20 years or older, have your cholesterol tested and work with your doctor to adjust your cholesterol levels as needed”.16

Health Topics A-Z

Where may I find Health Topics related to Cholesterol?

In Health Topics A-Z you may find:

Health Topics A-Z

Links

Where may I find Links related to Cholesterol?

Your Country may have Links similar to:

Links

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  1. 11 Foods That Lower Cholesterol
  2. 4 Foods Not To Eat If You Have High Cholesterol
  3. 6 Ways To Lower Your Cholesterol
  4. Blood Cholesterol
  5. Blood Cholesterol
  6. Blood Cholesterol: Causes
  7. Blood Cholesterol: Diagnosis
  8. Blood Cholesterol: Overview [+ Video: Learn About Blood Cholesterol
  9. Blood Cholesterol: What Is Blood Cholesterol? [+ Video: Cholesterol and Heart Disease]
  10. Blood Cholesterol: Signs, Symptoms, and Complications
  11. Blood Cholesterol: Treatment
  12. Can Coenzyme Q10 Prevent Statin Side Effects?
  13. Can We Reduce Vascular Plaque Buildup?
  14. Causes of High Cholesterol
  15. Cholesterol
  16. Cholesterol
  17. Cholesterol
  18. Cholesterol Levels: What You Need To Know
  19. Cholesterol Management: For Patients [+ Video]
  20. Cholesterol Medications
  21. Cholesterol Myths and Facts
  22. Cholesterol and Heart Disease
  23. Cholesterol and Heart Disease: The Role of Diet
  24. Cholesterol-Lowering Supplements May Be Helpful
  25. Cholesterol: About Cholesterol
  26. Cholesterol: About Cholesterol – Getting Your Cholesterol Checked
  27. Cholesterol: About Cholesterol – LDL and HDL: “Bad” and “Good” Cholesterol
  28. Cholesterol: About High Cholesterol
  29. Cholesterol: Know the Terms
  30. Cholesterol: Knowing Your Risk: High Cholesterol
  31. Cholesterol: Preventing High Cholesterol – Make Healthy Eating Choices
  32. Cholesterol: Preventing and Managing High Cholesterol
  33. Cholesterol: Top Foods To Improve Your Numbers
  34. Common Misconceptions About Cholesterol
  35. Consumer Health: What Are Triglycerides and Why Do They Matter?
  36. Control Your Cholesterol
  37. Controlling Cholesterol With Statins
  38. Doctors Should ‘Prescribe’ Exercise for Adults With Slightly High Blood Pressure, Cholesterol
  39. Eat Well – Fat: The Facts
  40. Eat Well – How To Eat Less Saturated Fat
  41. Eating Walnuts Every Day Could Lower Bad Cholesterol In Older Adults
  42. Eggs: Are They Good or Bad for My Cholesterol?
  43. Familial Hypercholesterolemia (FH)
  44. Fats Explained
  45. Fats, Oils and Heart Health
  46. Five Ways To Lower Cholesterol
  47. For Women: The FDA Gives Tips To Prevent Heart Disease [Food and Drug Administration, United States]
  48. Get Your Cholesterol Checked
  49. Getting Active
  50. Give Your Good Cholesterol A Boost
  51. Goredforwomen.org [Go Red for Women, United States]
  52. HDL (Good), LDL (Bad) Cholesterol and Triglycerides
  53. Healthy Body: Lower Your Cholesterol
  54. Healthy Eating
  55. Healthy Living
  56. Heart Doctor Explains Cholesterol Levels
  57. Heart UK: The Cholesterol Charity
  58. High Cholesterol
  59. High Cholesterol
  60. High Cholesterol Treatment: Does Cinnamon Lower Cholesterol?
  61. High Cholesterol – Causes, Symptoms & Treatments: What Should My Cholesterol Level Be? [+ Video]
  62. High Cholesterol: Diagnosis & Treatment
  63. How Does Menopause Affect Cholesterol Levels?
  64. How To Get Your Cholesterol Tested
  65. How To Lower Cholesterol With Diet
  66. How To Make Healthy Food and Healthy Lifestyle Choices Now
  67. How To Naturally Lower Your Cholesterol
  68. How and When To Have Your Cholesterol Checked
  69. Is High Cholesterol Hereditary?
  70. Know Your Numbers
  71. Know Your Numbers?
  72. Know Your Risk
  73. Knowing Your Risk for High Cholesterol
  74. LDL and HDL Cholesterol: “Bad” and “Good” Cholesterol
  75. Life’s Essential 8
  76. Making Sense of Cholesterol – The Good, The Bad and The Dietary
  77. Mayo Clinic Minute: How Cholesterol Affects Your Heart [+ Video]
  78. Mayo Clinic Minute: How Is Peripheral Artery Disease Diagnosed? [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
  79. Mayo Clinic Minute: Statins Plus Lifestyle Equals Healthy Life [+ Video]
  80. Mayo Clinic Minute: The Role of Cholesterol In Heart Health [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
  81. Mayo Clinic Q and A: Managing High Cholesterol With Lifestyle Changes
  82. Mayo Clinic Q and A: Medications for High Cholesterol
  83. Menopause and Heart Disease
  84. Monounsaturated and Polyunsaturated (Omega-3 and Omega-6) Fats
  85. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: 5 Tips: What You Should Know About High Blood Cholesterol
  86. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Cholesterol Management At A Glance
  87. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Coenzyme Q10
  88. Prevention and Treatment of High Cholesterol (Hyperlipidemia): My Cholesterol Guide
  89. Prevention and Treatment of High Cholesterol (Hyperlipidemia): Know Your Numbers and What to Do About Them – Losing Weight [+ Video: How To Manage High Cholesterol]
  90. Questions About Cholesterol? Here Are Some Answers
  91. Recipes [American Heart Association]
  92. Recipes [National Heart Foundation of Australia]
  93. Statins
  94. Statins May Benefit More People
  95. Statins: Are These Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs Right for You?
  96. Top 5 Lifestyle Changes To Improve Cholesterol
  97. Triglycerides: Why Do They Matter?
  98. Video Series-2021: How Clinicians Determine Which Women May Benefit From Statin Therapy
  99. What Is Cholesterol? Why Cholesterol Matters [+ Video: What Is Cholesterol?]
  100. What Is the Link Between Menopause and Cholesterol Levels?

Sources

Where may I find the Sources quoted?

You may find the Sources quoted at:

Sources

  1. Cholesterol. Page Last Reviewed: 27 September 2021. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention https://www.cdc.gov/cholesterol/index.htm Accessed: 31 May 2022
  2. Blood Cholesterol: Overview. National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute’s https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/blood-cholesterol Accessed: 31 May 2022
  3. Blood Cholesterol: What Is Blood Cholesterol? National Heart Foundation of Australia https://www.heartfoundation.org.au/Heart-health-education/High-blood-cholesterol Accessed: 31 May 2022
  4. High Cholesterol – Causes, Symptoms & Treatments: What Are the Types of Cholesterol? British Heart Foundation https://www.bhf.org.uk/heart-health/risk-factors/high-cholesterol Accessed: 31 May 2022
  5. High Cholesterol – Causes, Symptoms & Treatments: What Are the Types of Cholesterol? British Heart Foundation https://www.bhf.org.uk/heart-health/risk-factors/high-cholesterol Accessed: 31 May 2022
  6. High Cholesterol – Causes, Symptoms & Treatments: What Are the Types of Cholesterol? British Heart Foundation https://www.bhf.org.uk/heart-health/risk-factors/high-cholesterol Accessed: 31 May 2022
  7. Blood Cholesterol: Types of Cholesterol – Cholesterol and Triglycerides. National Heart Foundation of Australia https://www.heartfoundation.org.au/your-heart/know-your-risks/blood-cholesterol Accessed: 31 May 2022
  8. High Cholesterol – Causes, Symptoms & Treatments: What Is High Cholesterol? British Heart Foundation https://www.bhf.org.uk/heart-health/risk-factors/high-cholesterol Accessed: 31 May 2022
  9. Cholesterol. Page Last Reviewed: 27 September 2021. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention https://www.cdc.gov/cholesterol/index.htm Accessed: 31 May 2022
  10. High Cholesterol – Causes, Symptoms & Treatments: What Causes High Cholesterol? British Heart Foundation https://www.bhf.org.uk/heart-health/risk-factors/high-cholesterol Accessed: 31 May 2022
  11. Cholesterol. Page Last Reviewed: 27 September 2021. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention https://www.cdc.gov/cholesterol/index.htm Accessed: 31 May 2022
  12. What Is Cholesterol? Why Cholesterol Matters. Last Reviewed 06 November 2020. American Heart Association https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/cholesterol/about-cholesterol Accessed: 31 May 2022
  13. Prevention and Treatment of High Cholesterol (Hyperlipidemia). Know Your Numbers. And What To Do About Them. Last Reviewed: 11 November 2020. American Heart Association https://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/Cholesterol/PreventionTreatmentofHighCholesterol/Prevention-and-Treatment-of-High-Cholesterol_UCM_001215_Article.jsp Accessed: 31 May 2022
  14. Cholesterol: Summary – What Causes High Cholesterol? Last Updated: 10 December 2020. MedlinePlus https://medlineplus.gov/cholesterol.html Accessed: 31 May 2022
  15. Know Your Numbers They Could Just Save Your Life. Go Red for Women https://www.goredforwomen.org/en/know-your-risk/know-your-numbers Accessed: 31 May 2022
  16. Prevention and Treatment of High Cholesterol (Hyperlipidemia). Know Your Numbers. And What To Do About Them. Last Reviewed: 11 November 2020. American Heart Association https://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/Cholesterol/PreventionTreatmentofHighCholesterol/Prevention-and-Treatment-of-High-Cholesterol_UCM_001215_Article.jsp Accessed: 31 May 2022
Topic Last Updated: 02 September 2022 – Topic Last Reviewed: 31 May 2022

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