HIGH CHOLESTEROL SYMPTOMS ARE VARIABLE

What are the signs of a cholesterol problem? Unfortunately, there are no direct high cholesterol symptoms - it can only truly be diagnosed by a blood test. Thus the typical high cholesterol symptoms are secondary, those caused by the diseases that can result from elevated cholesterol levels.

The reason that there are no high cholesterol symptoms as such is that elevated cholesterol is not a disease in itself - it is, however, linked to a range of serious conditions including such as cardiovascular conditions (disease of the heart and blood vessels), angina, stroke, and mini strokes, known as transient ischemic attacks (TIA).

If you haven't had a blood test to assess your cholesterol levels, then you need to be aware of the following signs of arteriosclerosis. These can include:

Angina: pain caused by narrowed coronary arteries in the heart.

Leg pain when you exercise - this is due to narrowing of the arteries that supply the lower limbs

Blood clots and ruptured blood vessels - these can result in a stroke or mini-stroke (TIA)

Ruptured plaques - these are deposits of excess cholesterol in the blood vessels. When they rupture it can lead to a blood clot forming in one of the arteries that delivers blood to the heart. This is called a coronary thrombosis, and can lead to heart failure

Thick yellow patches (called xanthomas) that form around the eyes or elsewhere on the skin. These are cholesterol deposits and are common in those with a family history cholesterol problems

So what is cholesterol, and why does it cause so many problems? It is actually a natural substance, produced by the liver, and we need it to perform functions such as making hormones and producing energy. There are actually two types of cholesterol, and the proportion in which they exist in the body has much to do with your health:

High-density lipoprotein (HDL):Often referred to as good cholesterol

Low-density lipoprotein (LDL): Often called bad cholesterol

The good and bad refers to what they tell us about the state of your heart health. LDL, so called bad cholesterol, takes the cholesterol from your liver, where it is produced, and transports it around the body to the cells. HDL, the so-called good cholesterol, does the opposite - it mops up excess cholesterol and take sit back to the liver to be disposed of.

The problem comes when the body produces too much cholesterol. Excess cholesterol that is not removed by the HDL builds up in the inner lining of arteries, narrowing the arteries that supply the heart with blood, and increasing your risk of developing coronary heart disease.

Thus a blood test can reveal much. If levels of HDL cholesterol are high, it means that the system will be able to function efficiently, removing any excess cholesterol before it can clog up the arteries.

If, however, LDL levels are high, it means that too much cholesterol is being produced, and will thus be building up in the arteries.

Risk factors include a diet high in saturated fats, little or no exercise, smoking, excessive use of alcohol, and being overweight or obese. In addition, if you have a family history of cholesterol problems or coronary heart disease, or are over 50, your risk will be higher. If these apply to you, you should ask your doctor to perform a cholesterol test.