Hi, thank you for your question. Cholesterol is an important substance in your body. However, if the cholesterol levels is too high, it will increase your risk of developing other health conditions. High cholesterol does not show any symptoms. Only blood test will tell if you have high cholesterol. Normal cholesterol levels:
• Total Cholesterol: < 5.2 mmol/L
• HDL cholesterol (good cholesterol): > 1.0 mmol/L
• LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol): < 2.6 mmol/L
• Triglycerides: < 1.7 mmol/L

Risk factors for high cholesterol includes diabetes, high blood pressure, family history (high cholesterol / heart disease / stroke), smoking (in the past / currently still smoking / having exposure to secondhand smoke on a regular basis), obesity (body mass index ≥ 25), unhealthy eating habits, lack of exercise and old age.

If left untreated, high cholesterol can cause heart disease. High cholesterol can cause atherosclerosis (a buildup of plaque in the walls of arteries and cause these arteries to harden). Atherosclerosis leads to narrowing of the arteries and slowing of blood flow to heart muscles. Patients may develop angina (chest pain) due to reduced blood flow or a heart attack if arteries get obstructed completely.

High cholesterol can also cause stroke. When atherosclerosis affects arteries leading to the brain, patient may develop a stroke when blood supply to the brain is completely cut off. People who had a stroke are often left with long-term issues as a result of brain injury. When atherosclerosis happens, the heart has to work harder to pump blood and this increases the blood pressure.

Other complications of high cholesterol include peripheral vascular disease (diseases of blood vessels outside the brain and heart), chronic kidney disease if the kidney arteries are affected and gallstones in the gallbladder.

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