Signs and Symptoms
In the early stages, there usually aren't any symptoms of high cholesterol. The only way to tell if your cholesterol is high is through a blood test.
Causes
In some cases, high cholesterol levels may be inherited, your liver may make too much cholesterol, or your body may not remove LDL from your blood efficiently. High cholesterol and elevated triglycerides can also be associated with other diseases, such as diabetes. But most often high cholesterol is caused by eating foods high in saturated fat and not getting enough exercise. High cholesterol is more common in people who are overweight or obese, a condition that affects almost half of U.S. adults.
Risk Factors
Some factors increase a person's risk of having high cholesterol. While some of these cannot be changed, many can be. The most important risk factors for high cholesterol are:
Being overweight or obese
Eating a diet high in saturated fat and trans fatty acids (found in processed and fried foods)
Not getting enough exercise
Family history of heart disease
High blood pressure
Smoking
Diabetes