High cholesterol is completely asymptomatic until it causes serious cardiovascular events. The American Heart Association recommends cholesterol screening starting at age 20 — more frequently for those with risk factors.
When to See a Doctor
🩺 Routine checkupGet a fasting lipid panel every 4-6 years if you're a healthy adult, more often if you have risk factors (diabetes, family history, obesity). Go to the ER immediately for chest pain, sudden numbness, speech difficulty, or facial drooping — these are cardiac or stroke emergencies.
Early Warning Signs
1 symptomNo noticeable symptoms
High cholesterol rarely causes symptoms until it leads to a cardiovascular event like a heart attack or stroke. It is only detected via blood test.
Advanced Symptoms
4 symptomsChest pain (angina)
When cholesterol plaques narrow the coronary arteries, reduced blood flow to the heart causes chest tightness, especially during exertion.
Xanthomas (fatty skin deposits)
Yellowish, waxy bumps on the skin around eyes or tendons may appear in people with severely elevated cholesterol (familial hypercholesterolemia).
Xanthelasma (yellowish eyelid patches)
Small yellow deposits around the eyelids are a visible sign of lipid buildup and should prompt cholesterol testing.
Leg pain when walking (claudication)
Peripheral artery disease from cholesterol buildup can cause cramping or pain in the legs during physical activity.
Emergency Signs — Seek Immediate Care
1 symptomStroke symptoms (sudden numbness, confusion)
Cholesterol plaques that break off can block blood flow to the brain, causing stroke symptoms. This is a medical emergency — call 911.
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