Cholesterol
Blood cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance made by your liver. Blood cholesterol is essential for good health. Your body needs it to perform important jobs, such as making hormones and digesting fatty foods. 1
The genes you inherit and your lifestyle habits play a major role in your cholesterol levels. 2
0mg/dL
Optimal total blood cholesterol1
Lipoproteins are small, round particles made of lipids (fats) and proteins . These particles carry cholesterol in your blood and throughout your body. Two types of lipoproteins include:
- Low-density lipoprotein (LDL), sometimes called “bad” cholesterol
- High-density lipoprotein (HDL), sometimes called “good” cholesterol
- High levels of “bad” LDL cholesterol may create a buildup of plaque (fatty deposits) in your arteries . This buildup can lead to a heart attack, stroke, or other health problems.
- High levels of “good” HDL cholesterol may lower your risk for health problems. HDL cholesterol carries cholesterol and plaque to the liver to be flushed out of the body.
High levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol usually do not cause symptoms. Most people do not know they have high blood cholesterol until they have a blood test during a routine healthcare visit.
If your levels are very high, you may notice the following signs :
- Fatty bumps (xanthomas external) on your skin, especially on the elbows, joints, knees, hands, ankles, or buttocks
- Grayish-white rings (corneal arcus ) that appear around the cornea in your eye
- These signs develop mostly in people who have very high cholesterol that runs in families ( familial hypercholesterolemia).
Your healthcare provider will diagnose you with high blood cholesterol based on your medical and family history, a physical exam, and a blood test of your cholesterol levels.
Medical history and physical exam
- Your healthcare provider will ask about your eating habits, physical activity, family history, medicines you are taking, and other risk factors for heart or blood vessel diseases.
- During your physical exam, your provider will check for signs of very high blood cholesterol, such as xanthomas , or signs of other health conditions that can cause high blood cholesterol.
Screening for high cholesterol
- Your healthcare provider may order a blood test called a lipid panel to screen for unhealthy cholesterol levels.
- Your healthcare provider may ask you to fast for 8 to 12 hours before a lipoprotein.
Lipoprotein (lipid) panel
A lipoprotein panel, also called a lipid panel or lipid profile, measures the levels of LDL and HDL cholesterol and triglycerides in your blood. Cholesterol and triglyceride levels that are higher than normal may be signs of higher risk of coronary heart disease.
To treat unhealthy blood cholesterol levels, your healthcare provider may recommend heart-healthy lifestyle changes and prescribe medicines.
If a medical condition or medicine is causing your blood cholesterol problem, your provider may treat that condition or change your medicine or its dose.
Talk with your healthcare provider about your cholesterol levels, your risk of developing heart disease, other medical conditions you have, and your lifestyle.
How to prevent health burden?
The greatest gift you can give yourself and your loved ones is a healthy you. Take care of your body and focus on living the highest quality of life you can through your daily choices.
At Acino, we have longstanding knowledge which we want to share with you. Explore our materials to raise your awareness, and make decisions to stay healthy and improve your quality of life.
- By living a healthy lifestyle, you can help keep your cholesterol in a healthy range.
- Overweight and obesity raise levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL or “bad”) cholesterol.
What you can do to help prevent cholesterol:
- Limit foods high in saturated fat.
- Choose foods that are low in saturated fat, trans fat, sodium (salt), and added sugars.
- Eat foods naturally high in fiber
Prevention steps and strategies
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Get regular physical activity
- Quit smoking
- Limit alcohol
You and your health care team can work together to prevent high cholesterol.
References
- About cholesterol (2024) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/cholesterol/about/index.html (Accessed: 20 August 2025).
- What is blood cholesterol? (2024) National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. Available at: https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/blood-cholesterol (Accessed: 20 August 2025).
- Symptoms (2024) National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. Available at: https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/blood-cholesterol/symptoms (Accessed: 26 August 2025).
- Diagnosis (2024) National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. Available at: https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/blood-cholesterol/diagnosis (Accessed: 26 August 2025).
- Treatment (2024) National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. Available at: https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/blood-cholesterol/treatment (Accessed: 26 August 2025).
- Preventing high cholesterol (2024) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/cholesterol/prevention/index.html (Accessed: 25 August 2025).
Last updated: 26 August 2025
GLO-CV-08/2025-14