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High Cholesterol Levels

Cholesterol is a waxy substance that’s found in the blood, made in the liver and obtained from the diet.

It’s vital for wellbeing when it’s in ideal ranges. But, high cholesterol levels contribute to health problems, including heart disease. That’s why it’s important to know the signs of high cholesterol, so you can support your health in the long term.

What is high cholesterol?

Cholesterol is part of the fats (lipids) in your blood.

Most people think cholesterol is always bad, but this isn’t the case. This is because cholesterol helps build cells, make vitamins and synthesise hormones. Without these substances you would not be healthy – far from it.

Your intelligent liver makes all the cholesterol you need. But, us humans top up our levels when we eat animal products and foods high in saturated and trans fats.

This increases the chance of cholesterol accumulating in the artery walls that connecting the heart and brain. That’s why having high cholesterol increases your risk of heart disease and stroke.

Types of cholesterol

The 2 types of cholesterol are:

LDL  (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol

This is sometimes called ‘the baddie’, and makes up the majority of your cholesterol. High LDL makes you susceptible to health problems.

HDL (high-density lipoprotein) cholesterol

Often labelled the ‘good’ type of cholesterol. Its very important job is to soak up cholesterol in your blood and transport it back to the liver.

Having too much LDL or not enough HDL is a problem. In both situations, it causes LDL to dominate and leaves you susceptible to plaque forming in blood vessel walls.

Triglycerides are also a type of fat that works in conjunction with cholesterol. Any of the following combinations can also increase your risk of heart problems:

  • High triglycerides and low HDL
  • High triglycerides and high LDL.

Symptoms of high cholesterol

There are no high cholesterol symptoms. This means you could have high levels of cholesterol – and an increased risk of heart disease – and not know it.

While there are no obvious high cholesterol symptoms, it’s often part of other health conditions, like:

  • High blood pressure
  • Heart attack
  • Chest pain
  • Stroke
  • Diabetes
  • Dementia.

If you have any of these conditions or family history of high cholesterol, check your cholesterol levels regularly. 

What are the causes of high cholesterol?

There are many causes of high cholesterol, some of which are more in your control than others.

Contributing factors you can change:

  • High fat or sugar diet
  • Sedentary lifestyle
  • Obesity
  • High stress levels
  • Regular alcohol use
  • Smoking
  • Using some medications
  • Overburdened liver

Other contributing factors:

  • Family history of high cholesterol or heart disease
  • Being 40+ years of age
  • Having other medical conditions, e.g. diabetes, hypothyroidism, chronic kidney disease, liver disorders.

How is high cholesterol diagnosed and treated?

Diagnosis for high cholesterol is via a fasting Lipid Profile blood test. This measures your total cholesterol, HDL, LDL and triglycerides.

In Australia, healthy cholesterol levels are:

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

If results show you have high cholesterol levels, it’s time to look at treatment options.

First line treatment relates to diet and lifestyle factors. Your doctor will help you, but Naturopaths and Nutritionists are experts in this area.

Recommendations to reduce and prevent high cholesterol include:

Diet

  • Build your diet around fresh fruits, vegetables, wholegrains and lean proteins
  • Prioritise plant foods for protein, e.g. chickpeas, lentils, kidney beans, quinoa, amaranth, almonds, etc.
  • Eat a high fibre diet
  • Reduce intake of trans and saturated fats, e.g. fried foods, animal products, eggs
  • Limit intake of salt, sugars and packaged foods
  • Avoid alcohol

Lifestyle

  • Maintain a healthy weight
  • Exercise regularly
  • Don’t smoke
  • Decrease stress levels
  • Minimise exposure to toxins and chemicals 

If these measures don’t work, high cholesterol treatment involves:

  1. Medications from a Doctor, such as statins, or
  2. Supplements from a Naturopath, such as liver-supporting herbs.

Conclusion

Cholesterol, a fatty substance present in the blood, poses a risk for heart disease and stroke when levels are elevated. Detecting this condition solely relies on a fasting lipid profile blood test, as there are no evident symptoms associated with high cholesterol. To address concerns regarding heart health or in the presence of a family history of high cholesterol, seek testing from a healthcare professional. Fortunately, various treatment options are available for individuals with elevated cholesterol levels.

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FAQs

What are the 5 signs of high cholesterol?

There are no obvious high cholesterol symptoms, but it is often associated with:

  • High blood pressure
  • Heart attack
  • Chest pain at rest or during activity
  • Stroke
  • Diabetes.

Which foods are bad for high cholesterol?

Avoid foods high in fat and sugar. Together, these foods increase the body’s production of cholesterol, and make it hard for your liver to remove excess.

What is a healthy cholesterol level?

In Australia, a healthy total cholesterol level is between 3.9 – 5.5 mmol/L. For best results, also consider your HDL, LDL and triglycerides levels.