High Cholesterol

High Cholesterol: Introduction

Cholesterol is a naturally occurring waxy, fat-like substance that is present in your blood and in the body's cells. It is both made by the body itself and brought into the body through eating foods such as animal meats, which contains various levels of cholesterol. Cholesterol is a necessary element in the proper functioning of your body. However, when cholesterol levels become too high, they can result in the buildup of plaque on the walls of the arteries and block the flow of blood to vital organs. This can lead to the development of serious conditions, such as atherosclerosis (narrowing of the arteries), blood clots, hypertension, heart disease, heart attack (myocardial infarction), and stroke. Heart disease is the number one killer of women and men in the United States. More than a million Americans have heart attacks, and about a half million people die from heart disease every year, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood institute.

Cholesterol is comprised primarily of three components, HDL (good cholesterol), LDL (bad cholesterol) and triglycerides. When the levels and balance of HDL, LDL, and triglycerides in your body are not normal, they increase the risk for developing serious cardiovascular conditions. When the HDL and LDL triglycerides are present in the right levels and balance in your body, cholesterol functions to protect health, including cardiovascular health. High cholesterol is also known as hyperlipidemia and hypercholesterolemia.

Symptoms of High Cholesterol

• No symptoms - high cholesterol typically has no noticable symptoms. It is usually found by routine blood tests
• Asymptomatic in early stages
• Xanthoma
• Yellowish patches around eyelids
• Whitish edges of cornea
• more symptoms...»

See full list of 6 symptoms of High Cholesterol

Home Diagnostic Testing

Home medical testing related to High Cholesterol:

• High Cholesterol: Home Testing:
  • Home Cholesterol Tests
  • Home Triglycerides Tests
  • Home Blood Pressure Test Devices
• High Blood Pressure: Home Testing
  • Home Blood Pressure Hypertension Tests
  • Home Blood Pressure Monitors
  • Home Heart Tests
• Heart Health: Home Testing:
  • Heart Rate Monitors
  • Irregular Heartbeat Detection
  • Heart Electrocardiogram (ECG)
  • Home Blood Pressure Testing
  • Home Cholesterol Testing
• Fatigue: Related Home Tests:
  • Home Anemia Tests
  • Home Thyroid Gland Function Tests
  • Home Adrenal Gland Function Tests
  • Home Calcium Deficiency Tests
  • Sleep Apnea Testing
  • Home HIV Tests
• Home Anemia Diagnostic Tests
• more tests...»

High Cholesterol: Complications

Review possible medical complications related to High Cholesterol:

• Pancreatitis - uncommon; from very high triglycerides
• Numerous conditions have much higher risk with high cholesterol:
  • Atherosclerosis
  • Heart disease
  • Coronary heart disease
  • Angina
  • Heart attack
• more complications...»

Medical Textbooks Online about High Cholesterol

Book excerpts: Copyright © 2008 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.

Diagnostic Tests for High Cholesterol

• Cholesterol blood test - also called blood lipids or lipoprotein profile.
• Blood lipids
• more tests...»

Read more about tests for High Cholesterol

Wrongly Diagnosed with High Cholesterol?

• Misdiagnosis of High Cholesterol
• Failure to diagnose High Cholesterol
• Hidden causes of High Cholesterol (possibly wrongly diagnosed)
• Undiagnosed: High Cholesterol

High Cholesterol: Self Assessment Tools

• Heart Attack -- Self Assessment Tools
• Weight Management -- Self Assessment Tools
• Heart Disease -- Self Assessment Tools
• more tools...»

High Cholesterol: Medical Mistakes

• Cholesterol -- Health Mistakes
• Hypertension -- Health Mistakes
• Obesity -- Health Mistakes
• Diabetes -- Health Mistakes
• Metabolic Syndrome -- Health Mistakes
• more mistakes...»

High Cholesterol: Marketplace Products, Discounts & Offers

Products, offers and promotion categories available for High Cholesterol:

• High cholesterol
• more product offers...»

High Cholesterol: Undiagnosed Conditions

Commonly undiagnosed diseases in related medical categories:

• Chronic Major Diseases that are commonly Undiagnosed:
  • High Cholesterol -- Undiagnosed
  • Heart Disease -- Undiagnosed
  • Cancer -- Undiagnosed
  • Depression -- Undiagnosed
  • Type 2 Diabetes -- Undiagnosed
  • Type 1 Diabetes -- Undiagnosed
  • Hypertension -- Undiagnosed
  • Hemochromatosis -- Undiagnosed
  • Metabolic Syndrome -- Undiagnosed
• more undiagnosed conditions...»

Misdiagnosis and High Cholesterol

Metabolic syndrome often undiagnosed: Metabolic syndrome, also known as Syndrome X, is an often overlooked medical condition that causes a cluster of chronic symptoms. There are often four symptoms and conditions...read more »

Heart attacks can be undiagnosed: Although the most severe symptoms of heart attack are hard to miss, there are varying degrees of severity. It is altogether too...read more »

Heart attacks can be overdiagnosed: Although many people die from heart attacks, there are also many cases where people fear that they have a heart attack, but actually have something milder. Some of...read more »

Unnecessary hysterectomies due to undiagnosed bleeding disorder in women: The bleeding disorder called Von Willebrand's disease is quite common in women, but often fails to be correctly diagnosed....read more »

Undiagnosed causes of weight gain and obesity: Although obesity may be related to lifestyle issues, there are also a number of medical causes of weight gain or obesity that may...read more »

Read more about Misdiagnosis and High Cholesterol

High Cholesterol: Research Doctors & Specialists

Research related physicians and medical specialists:

• Cholesterol Specialists:
  • Clinical Lipidology (Cholesterol/Triglycerides)
  • Diabetes, Endocrinology & Metabolism
• Cardiac (Heart) Specialists:
  • Cardiology (Heart specialists)
  • Pediatric Cardiology (Child Heart Specialists)
  • Cardiothoracic Surgery
  • Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology
  • Interventional Cardiology
• Blood Health Specialists (Hematology):
  • Hematology (Blood Specialists)
  • Pediatric Hematology / Oncology (Child Cancer/Leukemia)
  • Hematopathology (Blood Diagnostics)
• more specialists...»

Other doctor, physician and specialist research services:

• Rate Your Doctor Online
• Research Your Doctor Online
• Review Patient Surveys About Your Doctor
• Research local specialists including ratings, affiliations, and sanctions.

Hospitals & Clinics: High Cholesterol

Research quality ratings and patient safety measures for medical facilities in specialties related to High Cholesterol:

• Heart Health (Cardiac Care) -- Hospital Quality Ratings
• more hospital ratings...»

Hospital & Clinic quality ratings » »

Choosing the Best Hospital: More general information, not necessarily in relation to High Cholesterol, on hospital performance and surgical care quality:

• 50 Best Hospitals Report
• Outstanding Patient Experinece Award Winning Hospitals
• Women's Health Best Hospitals
• Patient Safety
• Hospital Quality and Clinical Excellence Study (2009)

High Cholesterol: Rare Types

Rare types of diseases and disorders in related medical categories:

• Chronic Major Diseases -- Rare Types:
  • High Cholesterol -- Rare Types
  • Heart Disease -- Rare Types
  • Cancer -- Rare Types
  • Depression -- Rare Types
  • Type 2 Diabetes -- Rare Types
  • Type 1 Diabetes -- Rare Types
  • Hypertension -- Rare Types
  • Hemochromatosis -- Rare Types
  • Metabolic Syndrome -- Rare Types
• more rare diseases...»

Causes of High Cholesterol

• Diabetes - some sources claim that diabetes alters lipids leading to cholesterol elevation.
• Hypothyroidism - some sources claim that hypothyroidism alters lipids leading to cholesterol elevation.
• Cushing's syndrome
• Chronic renal insufficiency
• Familial hypercholesterolemia
• more causes...»

See full list of 27 causes of High Cholesterol

More information about causes of High Cholesterol:

• Medications, drugs, or substances causing High Cholesterol (12 listings)
• Underlying causes of High Cholesterol
• High Cholesterol as a complication caused by other conditions
• High Cholesterol as a symptom
• Medical news summaries relating to Causes of High Cholesterol

Treatments for High Cholesterol

• Cholesterol medications
  • Hormone Replacement Therapy - for menopausal women.
  • Statins
    • Lovastatin
    • Simvastatin
• more treatments...»

See full list of 34 treatments for High Cholesterol

News Archives for High Cholesterol

Medical news articles related to High Cholesterol include:

• Anti-Cholesterol Drug May Ease Back Pain
• Cholesterol Drugs May Raise Post-Op Delirium Risk
• LDL Cholesterol Tied to Increased Cancer Risk in Diabetics
• Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs Won't Cause Cancer
• Soy Protein Doesn't Lower Cholesterol
• Cholesterol Test Spots When HRT Raises Heart Risks
• Lowering Cholesterol May Also Lower Prostate Cancer Risk
• more health news...»

Source: HealthDay News

Evidence Based Medicine Research for High Cholesterol

Medical research articles related to High Cholesterol include:

• LIPOchip DNA microarray for the detection of familial hypercholesterolaemia
• I have a patient with no previous CHD but has high cholesterol and is intolerant of statins what is recommended?
• ACAT inhibition and progression of carotid atherosclerosis in patients with familial hypercholesterolemia: the CAPTIVATE randomized trial.
• Ezetimibe in hypercholesterolaemia: NICE guidance Safety concerns with rimonabant Paediatric cough and cold medicines - no help, some harm
• Ezetimibe for the treatment of adult patients with hypercholesterolemia
• Identification and management of familial hypercholesterolaemia
• Efficacy of statins in familial hypercholesterolaemia: a long term cohort study.
• more research...»

Click here to find more evidence-based articles on the TRIP Database

Videos for High Cholesterol

Patient Surveys for High Cholesterol

• Patient Profile Survey
  Take Survey  View Results
• Survey about the symptoms of your High Cholesterol
  Take Survey  View Results

Prognosis for High Cholesterol

Prognosis for High Cholesterol: Prognosis varies depending on adherence and individual response to treatment plans. The aim is to prevent complications such as cardiovascular disease.

More about prognosis of High Cholesterol

Reseach about High Cholesterol

Visit our research pages for current research about High Cholesterol treatments.

Clinical Trials for High Cholesterol

The US based website ClinicalTrials.gov lists information on both federally and privately supported clinical trials using human volunteers.

Some of the clinical trials listed on ClinicalTrials.gov for High Cholesterol include:

• Phase I Study of Ex Vivo Liver-Directed Gene Therapy for Familial Hypercholesterolemia - This study has been completed (Current: 23 Nov 2006)
• PLUTO: Pediatric Lipid-redUction Trial of rOsuvastatin - This study is currently recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - Rosuvastatin
• Effect of TAK-475 or Placebo co-Administered With Current Lipid-Lowering Treatment on Blood Cholesterol Levels in Subjects With Homozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia. - This study is currently recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - TAK-475
• Efficacy and Safety of Fluvastatin in Children With Heterozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia - This study has been completed (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - Fluvastatin
• Dose-Escalating Safety Study of ISIS 301012 in Homozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia Subjects on Lipid Lowering Therapy - This study is currently recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - ISIS 301012
• more trials...»

See full list of 197 Clinical Trials for High Cholesterol

Statistics for High Cholesterol

• Medical statistics for High Cholesterol
• Prevalence and incidence statistics for High Cholesterol
• Death and Mortality statistics for High Cholesterol
• Society statistics for High Cholesterol

High Cholesterol: Broader Related Topics

• Blood conditions
• Under-diagnosed conditions
• Silent conditions
• more types...»

Types of High Cholesterol

Types of High Cholesterol

• High triglycerides
• Low HDL cholesterol
• High LDL cholesterol
• more types...»

Read more about Types of High Cholesterol

Curable Types of High Cholesterol

Possibly curable types of High Cholesterol include:

• Nephrotic syndrome induced hypercholesterolemia
• Alcohol induced hypercholesterolemia
• Steroid induced hypercholesterolemia
• Anorexia nervosa induced hypercholesterolemia
• Hypothyroidism induced hypercholesterolemia
• Drug induced hypercholesterolemia- cimetidine, antiepileptics, tamoxifen
• more types...»

Rare Types of High Cholesterol:

Rare types of High Cholesterol include:

• Acute pancreatitis induced hypercholesterolemia
• Glycogen storage disease induced hypercholesterolemia
• Anorexia nervosa induced hypercholesterolemia
• Familial hypercholesterolemia
• Syndrome X induced hypercholesterolemia
• Type 1 hypertriglyceridemia
• Dysbetalipoproteinemia
• more types...»

Stories from Users Related to High Cholesterol

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• High BP in 13 yr old
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• weird blood work - high HDL & low B12
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• Cirrhosis & High Blood Sugers, Lethargic?
• blood test show high MCV??
• Anorexia - Blood tests and High Hemoglobin
• High Ketones
• blood sugar level to high?
• cholesterol emboli
• High Fever for 1.5 Month... Blood tests done with the following results
• high cholestrol

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User Interactive Forums

Read about other experiences, ask a question about High Cholesterol, or answer someone else's question, on our message boards:

• I can not get a diagnosis. Please help.
• Tell us your medical story.
• Share your misdiagnosis story.
• What is the best treatment for this?
• See all the forums.

Article Excerpts about High Cholesterol

Cholesterol is a fatty substance produced by the liver to help meet the body’s need for hormones and bile acids. It also enters the body when high-fat foods are consumed and when the body’s cholesterol level is higher than necessary for normal cell functioning. The resulting high blood cholesterol is a condition that greatly increases your chances of developing coronary heart disease. That is because extra cholesterol in the blood settles on the inner walls of the arteries, narrowing them, allowing less blood to pass through them to the heart. The higher your total blood cholesterol level, the greater your heart disease risk. (Source: excerpt from High Blood Cholesterol: NWHIC)

Definitions of High Cholesterol:

The presence of an abnormal amount of cholesterol in the cells and plasma of the blood; associated with the risk of atherosclerosis - (Source - WordNet 2.1)