What is High Cholesterol?

Cholesterol is a waxy substance that is made by the liver and obtained through the diet. It can be found in the fats (lipids) in your blood. High cholesterol is when you have high amounts of cholesterol in the blood.

Cholesterol is essential in order for your body to continue building healthy cells, however having high cholesterol can increase your risk of heart disease. This is because it can lead to a build-up of fatty deposits in your blood vessels, which overtime can make it difficult for enough blood to flow through your arteries and consequently to your heart.

What types of cholesterol are there?

There are two different types of cholesterol including:

• Bad Cholesterol (low-density lipoprotein or LDL) which carry cholesterol particles throughout your body. LDL cholesterol is bad because it builds up in the walls of your arteries, making them hard and narrow which can increase the risk of a heart attack.
• Good Cholesterol (high-density lipoprotein or HDL) which picks up excess cholesterol and takes it back to the liver. Having high HDL is linked to lower risk of heart disease, heart attack and stroke. 

What are the symptoms of high cholesterol?

There are no symptoms of high cholesterol. The only way to detect it is through a blood test. High cholesterol can be inherited or is the result of unhealthy lifestyle choices. The best way to control high cholesterol is through a healthy diet, regular exercise and medication.

What are the causes of high cholesterol?

High cholesterol can be caused by a number of things including:

• Unhealthy diet, particularly high in saturated fats, trans-fats and sugar
• Overweight or obesity
• Lack of exercise
• Age (cholesterol starts to rise after the age of 20)
• Smoking
• Family history 

How is high cholesterol diagnosed? 

A blood test, specifically a lipid panel or lipid profile, will show your total cholesterol levels. 

The measured total cholesterol level is made up of your LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and 20% of triglycerides (a type of fat in the blood). 

For an accurate reading you should not eat or drink anything between nine and twelve hours before the sample is taken.

In Australia, cholesterol levels are measured in millimoles per litre (mmol/L).

The range below is a guide for a healthy blood cholesterol level.

• Total cholesterol should be between: 3.9 – 5.5 mmol/L
• HDL (good cholesterol) should be between: 0.9 – 2.1 mmol/L
• LDL (bad cholesterol) should be between: 1.7-3.5 mmol/L
• Triglycerides should be between: 0.5 – 1.7 mmol/L

This is one of the key checks that we do on the mobile Heart Health Check Tour, along with checking your blood pressure and sugar levels. This visual cholesterol guide is also available as a PDF to download. 

How is high cholesterol treated?

Leading a healthy lifestyle through exercise and a healthy diet is important to avoid high cholesterol. If your cholesterol levels remain high, your doctor may recommend medication to help reduce the level. These include:

• Statins
• Bile-acid binding resins
• Cholesterol absorption inhibitors
• Injectable medication (a new class of drugs which can help the liver absorb more LDL cholesterol)

If you have high triglycerides, your doctor may recommend the following:

• Fibrates
• Niacin
• Omega-3 fatty acid supplement

How can high cholesterol be prevented?

To help prevent cholesterol you can:

• Eat a healthy diet
• Reduce salt
• Limit consumption of animal fats
• Eat healthy fats like avocados and salmon to increase HDL levels 
• Avoid trans fats found in fried foods and baked goods
• Eat whole grains where possible
• Drink alcohol in moderation
• Lose excess weight
• Exercise regularly
• Quit smoking
• Know your family history 

Research into High Cholesterol

Learn more about heart diseases