Diagnosis of High Blood Cholesterol

Signs and Symptoms of High Blood Cholesterol

Unfortunately, there are no signs or symptoms of high blood cholesterol levels until complications of atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) develop such as chest pain, heart attack, or stroke. It is for this reason that it is often difficult to impress upon patients the fact that regular screening for high blood cholesterol and modification of lifestyle risk factors (e.g., smoking cessation; maintaining optimal body weight; staying physically active) can, in many cases, reduce the risk for developing cardiovascular disease.