Step 4: Symptoms of high cholesterol

Return to Index Step 1: The Dangers of High Cholesterol Step 2: Types of Cholesterol Step 3: What Causes High Cholesterol?Step 4: Symptoms of High Cholesterol Step 5: Cholesterol Screening and Testing Step 6: Maintain Healthy Habits Step 7: Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs Step 8: You and Your Doctor are a Team Keypoints Glossary

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Unfortunately, there are usually no symptoms or obvious warning signs when blood cholesterol levels are too high. Plaque builds up slowly in your arteries. Without checking cholesterol levels, people may not know they have high cholesterol and clogged arteries until they experience angina -- chest pain related to heart disease -- or suffer a heart attack or stroke.

People with severely elevated cholesterol may have fat deposits in tendons and skin (called xanthomas), liver and spleen enlargement (that the doctor will feel on exam), and abdominal pain if pancreatitis develops.

However, unless your cholesterol is severe, the only way to know if your cholesterol levels are within desirable ranges is to have your blood tested. Have your cholesterol checked regularly, and take preventive steps to avoid the complications of high cholesterol. To learn about blood cholesterol testing, click "next" below.

Review Date: 10/31/2006
Reviewed By: Alan Greene, M.D., F.A.A.P., Department of Pediatrics, Packard Children's Hospital, Stanford University School of Medicine; Chief Medical Officer, A.D.A.M., Inc.

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