High Cholesterol Symptoms

If you have high cholesterol you won't usually show any symptoms. That's one of the problems, you may not even be aware of it. What normally happens is that high cholesterol levels are discovered in a regular medical checkup with your doctor, usually when a blood test is performed. The worst-case scenario to discover this is when serious health problems develop, like heart disease, or stroke.

Coronary Heart Disease (CHD)

Angina, usually felt as a chest pain, is the main symptom associated with coronary heart disease. Angina is best described like a pressing feeling on the chest, or a tight squeezing sensation around the chest, almost like a tight band. It sometimes feels like another person is sitting on top of your chest, causing pressure. The symptoms can also spread to other parts of your body such as the neck, jaw and sometimes your arms. In some cases you may feel pressure in other parts of your body, but not your chest.

As well as feeling pain in the chest many people who suffer from CHD (coronary heart disease) can also exhibit shortness of breath, nausea, sweating and light-headedness. Whatever you do, don't take chest pains lightly since they can very often be related to coronary heart disease. If you suffer from coronary heart disease it's wise to avoid having too large a meal – it can place a strain on your heart. And if you are experiencing chest pains should stop whatever you're doing and rest. If your symptoms are continuous you should really pay your doctor a visit.

Stroke

High cholesterol also often causes arteriosclerosis. That's a condition where plaque clogs up your artery. It's almost like pouring grease and fat down a drain – eventually it blocks up and water can't flow, except in the body it's blood. Such plaque prevents blood flowing freely through your arteries. That, in turn, causes increased blood pressure. In the worst case scenario the plaque in your arteries hardens so much that it dramatically reduces your blood flow, which causes blood to clot at the point where it is obstructed. Very often the pressure can be so high that the artery bursts, resulting in a stroke.

There is no warning when a stroke is likely to occur, but dizziness often precedes it, or there is sudden confusion. Strokes are debilitating and in most cases the vicitim is quite likely to lose some function in a of the body. In extrem cases they could even be paralyzed.

Unfortunately, heart disease is now among the top killer in many countries. That's particularly true in the United States. It's the top killer for men and women. Something in the region of 500,000 Americans die every year, due to heart diseases. Many more suffer from heart attacks every year. For the sake of your health it pays to keep a close eye on your cholesterol levels.