Testing for high cholesterol levels then is highly important. If you are overweight, a smoker, alcoholic, have previously suffered from a heart attack or stroke, eat a high amount of carbs (over 60% of your daily caloric intake) or are particularly inactive (possibly due to disability), then you may be at high risk of having bad high cholesterol and should seek blood tests from a professional. This will simply involve having a blood sample taken from which you will be provided with a precise reading of cholesterol levels and types of cholesterol levels called your ‘Lipid profile’. A desirable level for overall cholesterol is 200 mg/dl or below, where LDL is around 130-160 and HDL is above 40. Obviously here the higher the levels of HDL and the lower the levels of LDL, the healthier the patient is. Many governments now advise that all healthy adults get a Lipid Profile every five years and in cases where they fall into the categories that put them at higher risk this number should be higher. While blood tests may be unpleasant it could save your life.

Unfortunately in the US and Europe total cholesterol levels and levels of LDL are generally too high putting many Westerners at risk of heart attack and other conditions. On the other hand, countries such as Japan and China have relatively low levels of cholesterol. Risk factors also go up for women over 55 and are more common in men younger than 55 five years.

If you suspect you may be at risk of having high cholesterol you should immediately see your GP for a Lipid Profile. However there are also other symptoms of high cholesterol that you can check for. One of these is angina, which is caused by the narrowing and hardening of the arteries. This then stifles blood flow to the heart and so results in a noticeable chest pain. Angina is one of the most common symptoms of high blood pressure and also acts as a good warning sign that arteries are getting severely blocked, potentially meaning a heart attack is imminent – so take due heed.

Another of the symptoms of high cholesterol levels is xanthomas. Xanthomas is caused by deposits of cholesterol around the skin and eyes and appears as thick yellow patches in those areas. Xanthomas is particularly symptomatic of familial, genetic cholesterol. Similarly cholesterol deposits can also sometimes be seen around the cornea and may result in the area appearing whitish around the edges.

As cholesterol affects the blood flow it can also impact cardiovascular fitness and sufferers may find that they get out of breath more easily or just generally feel less fit and healthy or more tired. As red blood cells are responsible for carrying oxygen around the body, it stands to reason that clogged, narrow arteries should result in breathlessness and poor aerobic fitness.

Mack LeMouse

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