High Cholesterol: symptoms, causes & treatment in Nigeria
Also known as high lipids, dyslipidaemia.
This page is general health information, not a diagnosis. Always consult a licensed clinician about your own health.
Overview
High cholesterol means too much fatty substance circulating in the blood, quietly clogging arteries over years and raising the risk of heart attack and stroke. It causes no symptoms and is found only by a blood test. Diet, exercise and, when needed, daily tablets bring it down effectively.
Symptoms
No symptoms in almost all cases
Detected only on a blood lipid test
Rarely, fatty deposits around the eyes or tendons
Complications (chest pain, stroke) appear after years of damage
Causes & risk factors
Diet high in fried foods, red meat and processed snacks
Obesity and physical inactivity
Family history (inherited high cholesterol)
Diabetes, hypothyroidism and kidney disease
Smoking lowers protective cholesterol
Treatment & self-care
Cut down fried and fatty foods, eat more vegetables, beans, fish and whole grains, exercise regularly and stop smoking. If levels stay high or your overall heart risk is significant, doctors prescribe daily cholesterol-lowering tablets and monitor with periodic blood tests. Treatment is long-term, not a one-off cleanse.
See a doctor urgently if
You are over 40 and have never had a lipid test
You have hypertension, diabetes or a family history of early heart disease
Chest pain on exertion
You stopped your cholesterol tablets without medical advice
Frequently asked questions
What are the first signs of High Cholesterol?
Early signs often include no symptoms in almost all cases, detected only on a blood lipid test, rarely, fatty deposits around the eyes or tendons. Symptoms vary from person to person, so a proper assessment by a doctor is the only way to be sure.
Can High Cholesterol be treated?
Cut down fried and fatty foods, eat more vegetables, beans, fish and whole grains, exercise regularly and stop smoking. If levels stay high or your overall heart risk is significant, doctors prescribe daily cholesterol-lowering tablets and monitor with periodic blood tests. Treatment is long-term, not a one-off cleanse.
When should I see a doctor about High Cholesterol?
See a doctor promptly if you notice: you are over 40 and have never had a lipid test; you have hypertension, diabetes or a family history of early heart disease; chest pain on exertion; you stopped your cholesterol tablets without medical advice.