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Health Conditions
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High Cholesterol
What causes it?
Many factors appear to contribute to the development of high cholesterol:
- Heredity--Your genes partly influence how your body makes and handles cholesterol.
- Your diet--A high intake of saturated fat, dietary cholesterol, and excess calories can cause your cholesterol levels to increase. Being overweight can increase your LDL levels and decrease your HDL levels.
- Age and gender--Cholesterol levels begin to increase in both men and women beginning around 20 years of age. Premenopausal women usually have lower levels of cholesterol when compared with men of the same age. After menopause, a woman's LDL cholesterol level typically goes up, as does her risk for heart disease.
- Other medical conditions--Conditions such as diabetes, liver disease, thyroid disease, or kidney disease can cause elevated cholesterol.
- Lack of physical activity--Increased physical activity lowers LDL and raises HDL levels. Lack of exercise can cause the opposite.
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Note: The above information is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the expertise and judgment of your physician, pharmacist, or other healthcare professional. It is not intended to diagnose a health condition, but it can be used as a guide to help you decide if you should seek professional treatment or to help you learn more about your condition once it has been diagnosed.
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What causes it?
