What are the causes of high cholesterol?
There are many interrelated lifestyle factors that can contribute to elevated levels of unhealthy cholesterol. These include:
Diet – Eating foods high in saturated fat (full-fat dairy and red meat) and trans fat (processed oils and baked goods) can increase total cholesterol levels. However, dietary cholesterol and blood cholesterol levels are two very different things2 and do not tell the complete picture.
Exercise – Not only does exercise help individuals maintain a healthy weight, but there are multiple mechanisms involved in how exercise affects cholesterol levels. The most important of these is that stimulating exercise stimulates certain enzymes that help move LDL from the blood to the liver, where it is converted into bile and passed through the liver. Likewise, vigorous exercise is an effective way to increase HDL levels.
Obesity - Obesity is generally characterized by the consumption of calories in excess of energy expenditure, usually as a result of excessive intake of dietary fat. Research shows a clear link between diet (ie, excessive dietary cholesterol intake), cholesterol metabolism, and obesity.
Diabetes - Diabetes has a tendency to lower HDL cholesterol levels while causing increases in triglyceride levels and LDL cholesterol levels. This condition, known as diabetic dyslipidemia, is characterized by abnormal blood lipids that increase the risk of atherosclerosis, heart disease, and stroke.
Smoking – Smoking not only lowers HDL cholesterol levels (the good cholesterol), but it also worsens the condition by making LDL cholesterol stickier and more likely to stick to artery walls. Over time, smoking also damages the walls of your arteries, causing cholesterol to build up.
Alcohol – Drinking alcohol slows the liver's ability to remove cholesterol from the blood. This can lead to increased triglyceride levels and lower HDL cholesterol levels, which can lead to heart disease.
Age – As we age, the liver becomes less efficient at clearing LDL, so people over 40 are at increased risk of developing high cholesterol.
Genetic factors may also cause high cholesterol. However, the first line of defense is lifestyle changes that can lower cholesterol naturally.
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Symptoms and risks of high cholesterol
Cholesterol problems such as high LDL levels rarely cause noticeable symptoms. Testing is the only way to truly know how your cholesterol levels compare to normal cholesterol levels.
However, high cholesterol can increase the risk of certain health conditions with significant symptoms, such as high blood pressure, stroke, angina (chest pain), and cardiovascular problems.
These symptoms may overlap with conditions such as heart disease, stroke, and atherosclerosis, and often appear as:
dizziness or lightheadedness
Wobbly and unsteady gait
Drooping jaw or slurred speech
Pain or pressure on the left side of your chest
Lower limb pain
Certain medical conditions, such as kidney disease, liver disease, or an underactive thyroid, can also cause elevated cholesterol levels, so it's important to consider these conditions as well. Although these symptoms are usually more severe and require immediate medical attention, any of them may be related to high cholesterol.