High cholesterol occurs when there is too much or an unhealthy balance of cholesterol in the blood. High cholesterol can lead to narrowed and clogged arteries and contribute to heart disease, including heart attack and stroke.
Eating high-fat or high-cholesterol foods and inherited are believed to be the primary causes of high cholesterol.
Your genes control how fast LDL is produced and removed from your body.
This is a factor for high cholesterol that you have no control over. Some people have familial hypercholesterolemia, a specific form of high cholesterol that is inherited.
Conditions causing Dyslipidemia:
Liver Diseases
Diabetes
Cushing’s syndrome
Kidney disease
Underactive thyroid
Certain medications including birth control pills, estrogen, corticosteroids, some diuretics, and beta blockers can increase your cholesterol level.
Lifestyle factors, such as smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, and lack of exercise, are associated with high cholesterol. Your weight is another factor. Excess weight can increase your LDL level.
Both children and adults can have high cholesterol. Cholesterol levels tend to increase with age. For women, cholesterol typically increases around menopause.
