There are usually no symptoms that cholesterol levels are too high, reports the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. High cholesterol is typically found through routine blood tests during a physical examination. The NHLBI recommends that everyone over the age of 20 have their cholesterol levels checked at least every five years.
Test
A lipoprotein profile blood test is used to measure cholesterol levels. The test is given following a fast of nine to 12 hours. Information gathered from a lipoprotein test includes a total cholesterol count and triglyceride measurements, which are another form of fat in the blood tied to many of the same symptoms as high cholesterol. The low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels are measured as well as levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. HDL is the cholesterol that helps to fight build-up in the arteries while LDL is the bad cholesterol that causes heart disease and blocked arteries.
Numbers
Symptoms of high cholesterol are evident in the numbers gleaned from the tests, measured in milligrams of cholesterol per deciliter of blood. Total cholesterol levels that measure less than 200 mg/dl are desirable, while levels higher than 200 mg/dl signal potentially dangerous cholesterol levels. LDL cholesterol levels should measure below 100 mg/dl, while HDL levels of about 60 mg/dl are optimum to prevent heart disease.
Triglycerides
Triglyceride measurements are important factors in measuring heart health, as well, and typically mirror cholesterol levels. Triglyceride levels are considered high when they reach more than 150 mg/dl. Conditions that can trigger high numbers include obesity, smoking, alcoholism and genetic disorders. Lifestyle choices that include physical inactivity and a diet high in carbohydrates also cause high triglyceride levels.
Lifestyle
Some causes of high cholesterol can be avoided with lifestyle choices, primarily diet. Various foods contain the kind of fat that raises cholesterol, such as animal products like eggs, meat and cheese. Food high in saturated fat raises LDL levels more than any other substance. Trans fatty acids, made from hardening vegetable oil, also can raise cholesterol levels to dangerously high numbers. Excess weight increases LDL and lowers HDL, adding to the overall cholesterol measurement. While exercise itself does not control cholesterol, the NHLBI recommends regular exercise to maintain proper weight levels.
Factors
Causes that cannot be controlled include heredity. People with a family history of high cholesterol tend toward higher levels and must be checked regularly for symptoms of the disease. Familial hypercholesterolemia begins at birth and can cause heart attacks in children. Age and sex also affect cholesterol levels. LDL cholesterol levels rise with age in both men and women, with female LDL levels rising considerably after the age of 55.
