Risks of having high cholesterol
Having high cholesterol and lipids in the blood is known as hyperlipidaemia, which doesn’t cause symptoms but can increase risks of developing coronary heart disease (CHD).
To read more on CHD, click here.
Factors which can cause high cholesterol levels in the body include:
- Poor, unhealthy diet – especially having foods high in saturated fat
- Smoking
- Diabetes or high blood pressure (hypertension)
- Family history of stroke or heart disease
There is also a condition called familial hypercholesterolaemia which is an inherited condition that runs in families. It is a condition which means people are born with high cholesterol levels.
High cholesterol can increase the risk of developing the following conditions:
When high cholesterol builds up, it will limit blood flowing to the brain, heart and body which can also lead to blood clots and chest pain (angina).