1. Symptoms You Can't See
Hypercholesterolemia, or high cholesterol levels in the blood, often causes no symptoms at all, making it an extremely dangerous condition. In fact, high cholesterol makes the list of "silent killers," along with diabetes, hypertension and colon cancer, as they are all commonly underdiagnosed medical conditions which can cause severe health problems and even death. Don't wait for to get checked until you notice symptoms of high cholesterol. Instead, be aware of your risk for high cholesterol and get regular blood tests to monitor your blood cholesterol levels.
2. All in the Family
There is most definitely a predisposition to high cholesterol when there is a family history of the condition. While you many never have a single symptom, if anyone in your family is or has taken high cholesterol medication or has suffered from a stroke or heart attack your should have your blood checked regularly and limit the amount of saturated and trans fats in your diet. Remember that saturated and trans fats are those which come from animal products, such as meat, dairy and eggs, but are often used in packaged, processed foods as well.
3. A Daily Diet for Cholesterol Prevention
While there may be no symptoms of high cholesterol, a look at your daily diet can help you to access your risks. If you are a smoker or overweight, your chances for high cholesterol immediately rise. Additionally, a diet high in junk foods, fried foods, meats--particularly red meats--dairy products and eggs is high in cholesterol. You can lower your risks for heart disease and high cholesterol and improve your health by eating only lean, healthy meats such as white poultry meat and fish, and eating more fresh fruits and vegetables in place of packaged foods.
4. When One Condition Causes Another
There are a number of medical conditions which can increase your risk for developing high cholesterol. The most common include obesity, diabetes, preeclampsia and hypothyroidism, but there are others. If you have a medical condition and are not sure whether it effects your cholesterol levels, ask your doctor for advice, even if you have no obvious symptoms of high cholesterol.
5. Symptoms That Come Too Late
When you begin to have symptoms of high cholesterol, they come in the form of heart disease and stroke, by which time it is too late. Heart disease symptoms include chest pain, dizziness, nausea, numbness or tingling in the arms and legs, shortness of breath and more. Stroke symptoms include sudden numbness or weakness on one side of the body, confusion and difficulty understanding or speaking, sudden vision trouble and more. Again, it is best to get regular blood checkups before you suffer from these symptoms; however, any of the above are signs of a serious problem which requires immediate medical attention.
