High cholesterol

• high cholesterol is when you have too much of a fatty substance called cholesterol in your blood
• it's mainly caused by eating fatty food, not exercising enough, being overweight, smoking and drinking alcohol. It can also run in families
• you can lower your cholesterol by eating healthily and getting more exercise. Some people also need to take medicine
• too much cholesterol can block your blood vessels. It makes you more likely to have heart problems or a stroke
• high cholesterol does not cause symptoms. You can only find out if you have it from a blood test

Heart UK has separate information about inherited high cholesterol that starts at a young age, called familial hypercholesterolaemia.

Page last reviewed: Fri Apr 2022 Next review due: Fri Apr 2022