What Causes Symptoms of High Cholesterol?

High cholesterol often works silently in the body, gradually building up in your arteries without obvious warning signs until it reaches potentially dangerous levels. While many people with high cholesterol don’t experience noticeable symptoms, understanding what causes this condition is crucial for prevention and early intervention.

Common causes behind symptoms of high cholesterol include:

• Poor diet high in saturated and trans fats
• Lack of regular physical activity
• Being obese or overweight
• Smoking and excessive alcohol consumption
• Genetic factors (familial hypercholesterolemia)
• Certain medical conditions like diabetes, hypothyroidism, and kidney disease
• Some medications, including certain birth control pills and diuretics
• Age and gender (risk increases with age, and men tend to have higher cholesterol levels than women before menopause)

If you’re concerned about your cholesterol levels or experiencing symptoms that might be related to cardiovascular issues, such as chest pain, shortness of breath, or dizziness, don’t wait to seek medical attention. Complete Care’s freestanding ER locations offer comprehensive cholesterol testing and expert medical evaluation without the long wait times of traditional emergency rooms.

For life-threatening situations, please call 911.

What causes high cholesterol?

Poor diet high in saturated and trans fats

Understanding what raises cholesterol begins with diet. Foods high in saturated fats (like fatty meats, full-fat dairy products, and fried foods) and trans fats (found in some processed foods and baked goods) can significantly increase your LDL (Low-Density Lipoprotein) or “bad” cholesterol levels. 

These fats cause your liver to produce more cholesterol than necessary, which can then accumulate in your arterial walls, restricting blood flow and potentially leading to stomach and abdominal pain when cardiovascular issues become severe.

Lack of regular physical activity

Without regular exercise, your body’s ability to process fats efficiently decreases. Physical activity helps boost HDL (High-Density Lipoprotein) or “good” cholesterol levels, which work to remove harmful LDL cholesterol from your bloodstream. 

When you maintain a sedentary lifestyle, this natural balance becomes disrupted, allowing excess cholesterol to build up in your arteries and potentially causing shortness of breath during even mild exertion as your cardiovascular system becomes compromised.

Being obese or overweight

Excess weight, particularly around the abdomen, creates metabolic changes that negatively impact cholesterol levels. Being overweight often leads to higher LDL cholesterol and triglycerides while reducing beneficial HDL cholesterol. This dangerous combination accelerates arterial plaque buildup and increases your risk of developing serious cardiovascular conditions that can restrict blood flow to vital organs.

Smoking and excessive alcohol consumption

Both smoking and heavy drinking damage your blood vessels and accelerate the process of atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries). Cigarette smoke contains chemicals that both lower HDL cholesterol and make LDL cholesterol more likely to stick to artery walls. Similarly, excessive alcohol consumption can raise triglyceride levels and contribute to fatty liver disease, which further disrupts healthy cholesterol metabolism.

Genetic factors (familial hypercholesterolemia)

Some individuals inherit genes that prevent their bodies from efficiently removing LDL cholesterol from the bloodstream. This condition, called familial hypercholesterolemia, can cause dangerously high cholesterol levels from an early age, even in people who maintain healthy lifestyles. Those with this genetic predisposition may experience cholesterol levels two to three times higher than average, putting them at significantly greater risk for early heart disease or a heart attack.

Learn more: Will high blood pressure cause a heart attack?

Certain medical conditions like diabetes, hypothyroidism, and kidney disease

Several health conditions can adversely affect cholesterol levels. Diabetes, particularly when poorly managed, can trigger a dangerous cascade of metabolic problems, including elevated LDL cholesterol and triglycerides. 

In fact, a diabetic emergency can both result from and contribute to dangerous cholesterol imbalances, as the body’s inability to properly process glucose often coincides with disruptions in fat metabolism. Similarly, hypothyroidism slows your body’s ability to process cholesterol, while kidney disease alters how your body handles cholesterol and other lipids.

Some medications, including certain birth control pills and diuretics

Certain prescription medications, while treating one health condition, may unintentionally raise cholesterol levels as a side effect. Drugs such as some diuretics used for high blood pressure, certain birth control formulations with higher hormone levels, some immunosuppressants, and certain antipsychotic medications can all potentially increase LDL cholesterol or triglycerides. Always discuss potential side effects with your healthcare provider when starting new medications.

Age and gender

As we age, our bodies naturally become less efficient at removing LDL cholesterol from the bloodstream. Additionally, biological factors create gender differences in cholesterol profiles — men typically have lower HDL cholesterol than premenopausal women, whose estrogen provides some protective effects against high cholesterol. 

After menopause, however, women often experience rising LDL levels that can quickly catch up to or surpass those of their male counterparts, making regular cholesterol monitoring increasingly important with age.

Symptoms of high cholesterol

The “silent” nature of high cholesterol symptoms makes it particularly dangerous, as it can damage your arteries for years before physical signs appear. However, there are some indicators that may suggest elevated cholesterol levels that shouldn’t be ignored.

Common signs of high cholesterol include:

• Xanthomas, a yellowish, fatty deposits that can appear on the skin, especially around the eyes, hands, elbows, and knees.
• Xanthelasmas, or yellowish patches of cholesterol around the eyes, which are among the most visible signs of high cholesterol on the face.
• Corneal arcus, a grayish-white ring around the cornea of the eye, which is particularly concerning in people under 40.
• Painful sensations in the extremities, with high cholesterol symptoms in the feet, including cramping, numbness, or pain when walking.
• Chest pain or angina, especially during physical activity.
• Shortness of breath, which may indicate that cholesterol has narrowed arteries supplying the heart or lungs.
• Sudden numbness or weakness in the face, arm, or leg, which may signal a stroke caused by cholesterol-related blockages.

Regular cholesterol screening is essential because these symptoms typically don’t appear until cholesterol levels have been elevated for a significant time. By maintaining routine check-ups and seeking medical attention at the first sign of concerning symptoms, you can take control of your cardiovascular health before serious complications develop.

What are the side effects of very high cholesterol?

When cholesterol reaches dangerously high levels in the bloodstream, it can lead to severe health complications that affect multiple body systems. Left untreated, very high cholesterol creates a cascade of negative effects as excess cholesterol builds up in arteries throughout the body, restricting blood flow to vital organs and tissues.

The serious side effects of very high cholesterol include:

• Atherosclerosis, or hardening and narrowing of the arteries due to plaque buildup.
• Coronary artery disease, which causes reduced blood flow to the heart muscle, potentially causing chest pain (angina).
• Heart attacks caused by blockages of a coronary artery, which can cause heart muscle damage.
• Strokes stemming from interrupted blood flow to the brain due to blockage or rupture of an artery.
• Peripheral artery disease, or narrowed arteries in the legs, causing pain, numbness, and increased infection risk.
• Carotid artery disease, or narrowed arteries in the neck that supply blood to the brain.
• Chronic kidney disease, in which damaged blood vessels in the kidneys reduce filtering ability.
• Sudden cardiac death, particularly in people with familial hypercholesterolemia.
• Erectile dysfunction from impaired blood flow to genital tissues.
• Vision problems,including retinal vein occlusion from cholesterol-blocking tiny eye vessels.

Very high cholesterol presents a significant threat to both longevity and quality of life, with complications that extend far beyond the cardiovascular system. However, with proper medical care, lifestyle modifications, and appropriate treatment, many of these serious side effects can be prevented or significantly reduced.

How do you get rid of high cholesterol symptoms?

Addressing high cholesterol symptoms requires a two-pronged approach: treating the underlying high cholesterol condition itself and managing any specific symptoms that have developed.

Effective strategies to reduce high cholesterol and alleviate its symptoms include:

• Dietary modifications. Reducing saturated and trans fat intake while increasing fiber, plant sterols, and omega-3 fatty acids.
• Regular physical activity. Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise weekly to help raise HDL and lower LDL cholesterol.
• Weight management. Losing excess weight can significantly improve cholesterol profiles.
• Medication therapy. Statins, bile acid sequestrants, cholesterol absorption inhibitors, and other prescription medications as recommended by your doctor.
• Quitting smoking. Tobacco cessation can help improve HDL cholesterol levels.
• Limiting alcohol consumption. Reducing excessive drinking helps lower triglycerides.
• Managing underlying conditions. Controlling diabetes, thyroid disorders, and other contributing health issues.
• Surgical interventions. In severe cases, procedures like LDL apheresis may be necessary to remove cholesterol from the blood.

For specific symptoms that have already developed:

• Xanthomas (fatty deposits on the skin) may fade when cholesterol levels are controlled, though larger deposits might require surgical removal.
• Angina (chest pain) can be treated by medications like nitroglycerin, while long-term cholesterol management addresses the underlying cause.
• Leg pain from peripheral artery disease can be attenuated by supervised exercise programs and medications that improve circulation.
• Future vision issues may be prevented by treating the root cause of your high cholesterol, while existing complications might require specialized ophthalmological care.

The most effective approach to managing high cholesterol symptoms is early detection and prevention through regular cholesterol screenings. If you’re experiencing symptoms that might be related to high cholesterol, don’t delay seeking medical attention.

Your cholesterol conversation starts at Complete Care

Understanding the symptoms of high cholesterol is necessary for early intervention and effective management of this potentially dangerous condition. While high cholesterol often works silently, recognizing subtle signs and seeking proper medical care can significantly reduce your risk of serious cardiovascular complications. Don’t wait for symptoms to become severe before taking action.

Complete Care offers comprehensive cholesterol testing, expert evaluation, and personalized treatment plans at our convenient locations throughout Austin, Corpus Christi, Dallas/Fort Worth, East Texas, Lubbock, San Antonio, and Colorado Springs. Our emergency-trained physicians and state-of-the-art facilities ensure you receive the highest quality care without the long wait times of traditional emergency rooms. 

Whether you’re experiencing concerning symptoms or simply want to be proactive about your heart health, our team is ready to provide the compassionate, expert care you deserve.

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