High cholesterol is when you have too much of a fatty substance called cholesterol in your blood. It is mainly caused by eating fatty food, not exercising enough, being overweight, smoking and drinking alcohol. It can also run in families.

People with high blood pressure (hypertension) and diabetes often have high cholesterol. Too much cholesterol can block your blood vessels, making you more likely to have heart problems or a stroke.

Check if you have high cholesterol

High cholesterol does not cause symptoms. You can only find out if you have it from a blood test. Your GP might suggest having a test if they think your cholesterol level could be high. This may be because of your age, weight or another condition you have like high blood pressure or diabetes.

Lowering your cholesterol

If you have high cholesterol, a doctor or nurse will talk to you about how you can lower it. You can lower your cholesterol by eating healthily, getting more exercise and cutting down on alcohol. Some people also need to take medication.

Support for lifestyle changes can be found at: https://www.nhs.uk/better-health/