Cholesterol: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment
Medically reviewed by Achuta Uppu, MD, Internal Medicine. Last reviewed: October 23, 2026.
What kind of doctor treats Cholesterol?
A primary care doctor can check your cholesterol and treat high cholesterol. A cardiologist, a heart doctor, may also help. A direct primary care or concierge doctor can be a first stop for an evaluation and can refer you to a specialist when needed.
What is cholesterol?
Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance found in all the cells in your body. Your body needs some cholesterol to make hormones, vitamin D, and substances that help you digest food. Your body makes all the cholesterol it needs.
Cholesterol moves through your blood attached to lipoproteins, which are made of fat and protein. HDL is sometimes called good cholesterol. It carries cholesterol from other parts of your body back to your liver. LDL is sometimes called bad cholesterol. A high LDL level leads to the buildup of plaque in your arteries. It can lead to coronary artery disease, where the heart's arteries become narrow or blocked.
Symptoms
High cholesterol usually does not cause symptoms.
Most people do not know they have high blood cholesterol until a blood test at a routine visit. If your levels are very high, you may notice these signs:
- Fatty bumps, called xanthomas, on your skin, especially on the elbows, joints, knees, hands, ankles, or buttocks.
- Grayish-white rings, called corneal arcus, around the cornea in your eye.
Untreated high blood cholesterol can lead to serious problems, such as heart attack and stroke.
Causes and who gets it
The most common cause of high cholesterol is an unhealthy lifestyle. Eating lots of saturated fats can raise your LDL cholesterol. These fats are found in red meats, full-fat dairy products, chocolate, some baked goods, and many fried and processed foods. Smoking lowers HDL cholesterol, especially in women, and raises LDL cholesterol.
Genes can also cause high cholesterol. Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is an inherited condition. It causes very high cholesterol in the blood.
Other things can raise your risk of high cholesterol:
- Age. Cholesterol levels tend to rise as you get older. Children and teens can also have high cholesterol.
- Other health conditions, such as diabetes, chronic kidney disease, HIV, and lupus.
- Medicines, such as steroids, some chemotherapy medicines, medicines taken after an organ transplant, and certain acne medicines.
- Weight. Being overweight or having obesity raises your cholesterol level.
How doctors diagnose it
There are usually no signs that you have high cholesterol. Doctors use a blood test to measure your cholesterol levels. How often you should have this test depends on your age, risk factors, and family history.
- Children and teens: the first test should be between ages 9 to 11, and then every 5 years.
- Ages 20 to 65: younger adults every 5 years. Men ages 45 to 65 and women ages 55 to 65 every 1 to 2 years.
Treatment
You can lower your cholesterol with heart-healthy lifestyle changes. They include a heart-healthy eating plan, weight management, and regular physical activity. Adults with overweight or obesity can lower LDL cholesterol and raise HDL cholesterol by losing only 3% to 5% of their weight.
If lifestyle changes alone do not lower your cholesterol enough, you may also need medicines. Statins are the most common medicine used to treat high blood cholesterol. They reduce the amount of cholesterol made in the liver. Studies have shown that statins lower the risk of heart attack and stroke in people with high LDL cholesterol. Statins usually do not cause side effects, but they may raise the risk of diabetes. This mainly happens in people already at high risk of diabetes. Rare side effects include muscle damage.
Ezetimibe or bempedoic acid may be used if statins cause side effects. They may also be used if statins and lifestyle changes do not lower your bad LDL cholesterol enough. In rare cases, these medicines can cause liver injury. PCSK9 inhibitors are medicines that you inject under your skin. The most common side effects are itching, pain, or swelling where you inject it.
If you take medicines to lower your cholesterol, you still should continue with the lifestyle changes.
When to see a doctor
Talk to your healthcare provider about your risk. Undiagnosed or untreated high cholesterol can lead to chest pain or a heart attack. Call 911 or go to the emergency room if you have chest pain or discomfort that lasts two minutes or more. Also go for trouble breathing, fainting, sudden weakness, sudden dizziness or change in vision, or trouble speaking. These can be signs of a heart attack or stroke.
How a direct primary care or concierge doctor fits in
A direct primary care doctor charges a flat monthly fee instead of billing insurance, while a concierge doctor usually charges more and often works alongside insurance. Either type of doctor can order your cholesterol blood test and go over your risk factors. They can help you follow a treatment plan. They can refer you to a heart doctor if you need one.
Common questions
Does high cholesterol cause symptoms?
No, high cholesterol usually does not cause symptoms.
What is the difference between HDL and LDL cholesterol?
HDL is sometimes called good cholesterol, and LDL is sometimes called bad cholesterol. A high LDL level leads to the buildup of plaque in your arteries.
Can lifestyle changes lower cholesterol?
Yes, heart-healthy lifestyle changes can lower your cholesterol. If these changes alone are not enough, you may also need medicines.
How often should I get my cholesterol checked?
It depends on your age, risk factors, and family history.
Can children have high cholesterol?
Yes, children and teens can have high cholesterol, although it is less common.
Sources
- MedlinePlus - Cholesterol
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute - Blood Cholesterol: Treatment
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute - Blood Cholesterol: Symptoms
Medical Disclaimer
This content is for general educational and informational purposes only and is not medical advice. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and reading it does not create a doctor-patient relationship. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions about a medical condition, and never disregard or delay seeking professional advice because of something you read here. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call 911 (or your local emergency number) immediately.
