Key takeaways
High cholesterol usually occurs without noticeable symptoms, making regular cholesterol screenings essential, especially for those over 20 or with risk factors.
Managing cholesterol involves lifestyle adjustments like diet changes (limiting cholesterol, saturated and trans fats, and processed foods) and regular exercise, which can be supplemented with medications like statins if needed.
High levels of LDL cholesterol can lead to plaque buildup in arteries, increasing the risk of serious complications such as heart attack and stroke. HDL cholesterol helps remove LDL, reducing these risks.
According to the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
, nearly 86 million U.S. adults ages 20 or older have cholesterol levels higher than 200 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL). A high total cholesterol is considered anything greater than 240 mg/dL.
But you may not know you have high cholesterol (also known as
or dyslipidemia) until you get tested because this condition often doesn’t have symptoms.
Cholesterol is a type of
— a waxy, fat-like substance that your liver produces. It’s vital for the formation of:
cell membranes
certain hormones
Cholesterol doesn’t dissolve in water, so it can’t travel through your blood on its own. To help transport cholesterol, your liver produces lipoproteins.
You may hear these referred to as “bad” cholesterol (LDL) and “good” cholesterol (HDL).
LDL cholesterol is any cholesterol that low-density lipoproteins carry. If your blood contains too much LDL cholesterol, you may be diagnosed with high LDL cholesterol.
High cholesterol is often a “silent” condition and typically doesn’t have
.
Many people don’t realize they have high cholesterol or receive treatment until they develop serious complications, such as heart attack and stroke. That’s why it’s important to get your
on a regular basis.
If you’re 20 years or older, ask your doctor if you should have routine cholesterol screening.
Having
may also increase your risk. Other lifestyle factors that can contribute to high cholesterol include inactivity and
.
can also affect your chances of developing high cholesterol.
Other health conditions, such as
and hypothyroidism, may increase your risk of developing high cholesterol and related complications.
People of all ages, sexes, and ethnicities can have high cholesterol. While these risk factors are out of your control, there are ways to reduce your risks.
Here’s the difference between the three types of cholesterol:
LDL ‘bad’ cholesterol
If your levels of LDL cholesterol are too high and left untreated,
can build up on the walls of your arteries, a condition known as
. This can:
narrow your arteries
limit blood flow to your tissues and organs
raise your risk of
If a blood clot blocks an artery in your heart or brain, it can cause a heart attack or stroke.
High cholesterol can also create a bile imbalance, raising your risk of
.
Complications of atherosclerosis
Atherosclerosis
life threatening complications, such as:
or chest pain
HDL ‘good’ cholesterol
essentially works against LDL cholesterol by returning it to the liver for removal from the body, preventing cholesterol plaque from building up in the arteries. It lowers your risk of:
blood clots
heart disease
stroke
Triglycerides
are another type of lipid. While your body uses cholesterol to build cells and certain hormones, it uses triglycerides for energy.
Your body converts calories it can’t use right away into triglycerides, which are stored in fat cells. It uses lipoproteins to circulate triglycerides through your bloodstream.
If you regularly eat more calories than your body can use, your triglyceride levels may become too high. This can raise your risk of health problems, including
and stroke.
A doctor can use a
to measure your triglyceride and cholesterol levels.
The CDC recommends cholesterol level checks
. If you have a family history of high cholesterol or other risk factors for cardiovascular disease, your doctor may encourage more frequent cholesterol testing.
Your doctor will use a test called a
to measure the levels of your:
total cholesterol (overall amount of cholesterol in your blood, including LDL and HDL cholesterol)
LDL cholesterol
HDL cholesterol
triglycerides
If your total or LDL cholesterol levels are too high, your doctor may diagnose you with high cholesterol. High cholesterol can be dangerous when your LDL levels are too high and your HDL levels are too low.
Optimal cholesterol levels charts
According to the
, the optimal cholesterol levels of most adults are:
Cholesterol levelCholesterol typeabout 150 mg/dLtotalabout 100 mg/dLLDLat least 40 mg/dL in men and 50 mg/dL in womenHDLless than 150 mg/dLtriglycerides
also provides optimal to high categories of LDL levels:
LDL cholesterol levelsCategorybelow 100 mg/dLoptimal100 to 129 mg/dL near/above optimal130 to 159 mg/dLborderline high160 to 189 mg/dLhighabove 190 mg/dLvery highThese measurements are general. Your doctor will consider other factors before deciding on a treatment plan.
If you have high cholesterol, your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes to help lower it.
Most doctors use generalized measurements to decide on treatment plans. They may categorize these measurements as:
desirable
borderline high
high cholesterol
Your doctor may also prescribe medications to help lower your cholesterol levels. Sometimes, they may refer you to a specialist for more care.
Diet
To help you achieve and maintain healthy cholesterol levels, your doctor may recommend changes to your diet. They may advise you to:
limit your intake of foods high in cholesterol,
, and
choose lean sources of protein, such as chicken, fish, and legumes
eat a variety of
, such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains
opt for baked, broiled, steamed, grilled, and roasted foods
avoid sugary, prepackaged food options when possible
Foods that are high in cholesterol, saturated fats, or trans fats that your doctor may recommend avoiding include:
red meat, organ meats, egg yolks, and high fat dairy products
ultra-processed foods made with cocoa butter or
deep-fried foods
certain baked goods, such as some cookies and muffins
Medications
A diagnosis of high cholesterol doesn’t mean you will be put on medication. If your doctor does prescribe
, different factors may influence what they recommend.
Your doctor might prescribe medications to help lower your cholesterol levels if lifestyle changes alone aren’t working.
are the most commonly prescribed medications for high cholesterol. They block your liver from producing more cholesterol.
Examples of statins include:
(Lipitor)
(Lescol)
(Crestor)
(Zocor)
Other medications for high cholesterol can include:
bile acid resins or sequestrants, such as colesevalam (
), colestipol (Colestid), or
(Prevalite)
cholesterol absorption inhibitors, such as
(Zetia)
, such as alirocumab (
) and evolocumab (
)
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 (
).
Home remedies
You may be able to lower your cholesterol levels
. A nutritious diet, regular exercise, and avoiding smoking tobacco products may be enough for some people.
Some people claim that certain herbal and nutritional supplements may also help lower cholesterol levels. Claims have been made about:
and stanol supplements
blond
, found in psyllium seed husk
ground
The level of evidence supporting these claims varies. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) hasn’t approved any of these products for treating high cholesterol. More research is needed to learn if they can help treat this condition.
Talk with a healthcare professional before taking any herbal or nutritional supplements. In some cases, they might
interact with other medications
you’re taking.
You can’t control the genetic risk factors for high cholesterol, but you can manage your lifestyle.
To lower your risk of developing high cholesterol:
Eat a nutritious diet that’s low in cholesterol and animal fats, and high in fiber.
Avoid excessive alcohol consumption.
Maintain a moderate weight.
Exercise regularly.
Avoid smoking, or try a
.
Follow your doctor’s recommendations for routine cholesterol screening. If you have a higher risk of developing high cholesterol or coronary heart disease, they will likely encourage regular testing.
High cholesterol often has no symptoms. But without treatment, it can cause serious health issues.
A healthcare professional can help you manage high cholesterol levels and, in many cases, avoid complications.
Ask a doctor to test your cholesterol levels, especially if you’re over age 20. Practicing healthy lifestyle choices like exercising and not smoking while eating nutritious, whole foods will help you manage your health and cholesterol.