Hypercholesterolemia
What is Hypercholesterolemia?
Hypercholesterolemia means you have too much cholesterol in your blood. Cholesterol is a waxy substance your body needs to build cells and make hormones. But when levels get too high, cholesterol builds up in your artery walls. This buildup forms plaques that narrow your arteries and restrict blood flow.
Over time, these plaques can harden and lead to atherosclerosis, a condition where your arteries become stiff and narrow. This increases your risk of heart attack, stroke, and other cardiovascular problems. Many people with hypercholesterolemia feel perfectly fine, which is why testing your cholesterol levels matters so much.
Your total cholesterol number includes several types of cholesterol moving through your bloodstream. The goal is to keep this number in a healthy range through diet, exercise, and sometimes medication. Catching high cholesterol early gives you time to make changes before serious damage occurs.
Symptoms
- No symptoms in most cases, especially early on
- Fatty deposits under the skin, called xanthomas
- Yellowish deposits around the eyelids, called xanthelasmas
- White or gray ring around the cornea of the eye
- Chest pain or pressure if arteries become severely blocked
Most people with hypercholesterolemia have no symptoms at all. This is why cholesterol is called a silent condition. You can have dangerously high levels for years without feeling sick. The only way to know your cholesterol status is through blood testing.
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Causes and risk factors
Your body makes most of its own cholesterol in the liver. The rest comes from foods you eat, especially animal products like meat, cheese, and eggs. Some people inherit genes that cause their bodies to make too much cholesterol or remove it too slowly from their blood. Familial hypercholesterolemia is a genetic form that runs in families and causes very high cholesterol from birth.
Lifestyle factors play a major role in cholesterol levels. Eating too many saturated fats and trans fats raises cholesterol. Being overweight or inactive also pushes numbers up. Smoking damages blood vessel walls and lowers good cholesterol. Age matters too, as cholesterol tends to rise as you get older. Medical conditions like diabetes, kidney disease, and hypothyroidism can also raise cholesterol levels.
How it's diagnosed
Hypercholesterolemia is diagnosed through a simple blood test that measures your total cholesterol level. This test is often part of a lipid panel that also checks LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and triglycerides. You may need to fast for 9 to 12 hours before the test for the most accurate results. Your doctor will compare your numbers to recommended targets based on your age and risk factors.
Rite Aid offers cholesterol testing as part of our flagship blood panel. You can get tested at any Quest Diagnostics location near you. Our panel measures total cholesterol along with over 200 other biomarkers. Regular testing helps you track your levels over time and see if lifestyle changes or medications are working.
Treatment options
- Eat a heart-healthy diet low in saturated fats and trans fats
- Increase soluble fiber from oats, beans, fruits, and vegetables
- Exercise for at least 30 minutes most days of the week
- Lose weight if you are overweight or obese
- Quit smoking and limit alcohol intake
- Take statin medications if prescribed by your doctor
- Consider other cholesterol-lowering drugs like ezetimibe or PCSK9 inhibitors
- Manage related conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure
- Get regular cholesterol checks to monitor progress
- Work with a registered dietitian for personalized nutrition advice
Concerned about Hypercholesterolemia? Get tested at Rite Aid.
- Simple blood draw at your nearest lab
- Results in days, not weeks
- Share results with your doctor
Frequently asked questions
Total cholesterol above 200 mg/dL is considered borderline high. Levels from 200 to 239 mg/dL are borderline high, while 240 mg/dL and above is high. Your doctor will also look at your LDL and HDL cholesterol levels to assess your overall risk. Target levels vary based on your personal health history and other risk factors.
Yes, you can have high cholesterol even with a healthy diet. Your liver makes most of your cholesterol, and genetics play a big role in how much your body produces. Some people inherit genes that cause high cholesterol regardless of diet. Even if you eat well, you should still get your cholesterol tested regularly.
Adults should get cholesterol tested every 4 to 6 years starting at age 20. If you have high cholesterol, heart disease risk factors, or are on medication, you may need testing more often. Your doctor might recommend testing every 3 to 12 months to monitor treatment. Regular testing helps you catch changes early and adjust your approach.
Foods high in saturated fats and trans fats raise cholesterol the most. These include red meat, full-fat dairy products, butter, cheese, and fried foods. Processed baked goods and snack foods often contain trans fats. Limiting these foods and choosing lean proteins, fish, nuts, and olive oil helps lower cholesterol naturally.
Yes, losing even 5 to 10 pounds can help lower your cholesterol levels. Weight loss reduces the amount of cholesterol your liver produces. It also helps raise your HDL, or good cholesterol, which removes excess cholesterol from your blood. Combine weight loss with heart-healthy eating and regular exercise for the best results.
Whether you need medication depends on how high your cholesterol is and your other risk factors. Your doctor will consider your age, family history, blood pressure, diabetes status, and smoking habits. Many people can lower cholesterol through diet and exercise alone. If lifestyle changes are not enough after 3 to 6 months, medication may be recommended.
Statins are medications that block an enzyme your liver needs to make cholesterol. This reduces the amount of cholesterol in your blood and helps your liver remove existing cholesterol. Common statins include atorvastatin, simvastatin, and rosuvastatin. They are the most widely prescribed drugs for lowering cholesterol and reducing heart disease risk.
High cholesterol rarely goes away on its own without changes to diet, exercise, or medication. Your body will keep producing cholesterol at the same rate unless you take action. Even people who inherit high cholesterol can often improve their numbers with lifestyle changes. The key is making sustainable changes and monitoring your levels over time.
No, cholesterol and triglycerides are different types of fats in your blood. Cholesterol builds cell membranes and makes hormones, while triglycerides store unused calories for energy. Both can increase your heart disease risk when levels are too high. A complete lipid panel measures both cholesterol and triglycerides to give you the full picture of your heart health.
You can reduce your risk by eating a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and healthy fats. Stay active with regular physical activity and maintain a healthy weight. Avoid smoking and limit alcohol intake. If high cholesterol runs in your family, early testing and proactive lifestyle habits are especially important.