High Cholesterol: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment
Medically reviewed by Achuta Uppu, MD, Internal Medicine. Last reviewed: October 23, 2026.
What kind of doctor treats High Cholesterol?
A primary care doctor, a doctor who handles everyday health care, often finds and treats high cholesterol. You may also see a cardiologist, a heart doctor. 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 high 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.
High cholesterol means you have too much cholesterol in your blood. It can combine with other substances in the blood to form plaque, which sticks to the walls of your arteries, the blood vessels that carry blood from the heart. This buildup is called atherosclerosis. It can narrow or even block the arteries that feed your heart.
Symptoms
There are usually no signs or symptoms that you have high cholesterol. Over time, though, untreated high cholesterol can lead to serious problems. Plaque can reduce blood flow to the heart muscle and cause angina (chest pain) or a heart attack. It can also build up in arteries that bring blood to your brain and limbs, which can lead to a stroke.
Causes and who gets it
The most common cause of high cholesterol is an unhealthy lifestyle. This can include:
- Eating a lot of saturated fats, found in red meats, full-fat dairy products, and many deep-fried and processed foods.
- Getting little physical activity.
- Smoking.
- Stress.
- Drinking too much alcohol.
Genes can also play a part. Familial hypercholesterolemia is an inherited condition that causes very high cholesterol. High cholesterol can run in families. Other health conditions and some medicines can also raise your LDL or lower your HDL. These include diabetes, chronic kidney disease, and HIV.
Your cholesterol tends to rise as you get older. Children and teens can also have it. Being overweight or having obesity also raises cholesterol.
How doctors diagnose it
Your provider diagnoses high cholesterol from your medical and family history, a physical exam, and a blood test of your cholesterol levels. The blood test is called a lipid panel. It measures LDL and HDL cholesterol and triglycerides, a type of fat in your blood.
Your provider may ask you to fast for 8 to 12 hours before the test. Follow your provider's instructions about fasting.
How often you need the test depends on your age, risk factors, and family history. Children should have a first test between ages 9 and 11, then every 5 years. People over 65 should be tested every year.
Treatment
Treatment can include heart-healthy lifestyle changes and medicines. If a health condition or a medicine is causing the problem, your provider may treat the condition or change the medicine.
Lifestyle changes can help lower LDL cholesterol. They include:
- Limiting saturated fats from fatty meats, dairy products, and desserts.
- Eating whole grains, fruits, and vegetables instead of refined carbohydrates such as sweets, and eating a variety of nuts.
- Getting regular physical activity. Ask your provider what level is right for you.
- Adults with overweight or obesity can lower bad LDL by losing 3% to 5% of their weight.
- Quitting smoking, limiting alcohol, managing stress, and getting 7 to 9 hours of sleep a day.
Medicines are also used. Statins are the most common medicine for high cholesterol. They reduce the amount of cholesterol your liver makes, and studies show they 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, mostly in people already at high risk. Rare side effects include muscle damage.
Other medicines may be used if you cannot take statins or if statins alone do not lower your cholesterol enough. Bile acid sequestrants may cause diarrhea or make some other medicines less effective. PCSK9 inhibitors are shots under the skin. Their most common side effects are itching, pain, or swelling at the shot site.
When to see a doctor
Because high cholesterol usually has no symptoms, a blood test is how you find out. Ask your provider how often you should be tested. Call 911 or go to the emergency room if you have chest pain or discomfort lasting two minutes or more, trouble breathing, fainting, or sudden dizziness, weakness, or change in vision.
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 can order a cholesterol blood test, go over your results, and follow your progress with you. They can also refer you to a specialist when needed.
Common questions
Does high cholesterol cause symptoms?
No, usually not. There are usually no signs or symptoms that you have high cholesterol. A blood test is the way to find out.
What is the difference between LDL and HDL cholesterol?
LDL is sometimes called the "bad" cholesterol and HDL the "good" cholesterol. A high LDL level leads to plaque buildup in your arteries. HDL helps your body get rid of cholesterol.
Can children have high cholesterol?
Yes. It is less common, but younger people, including children and teens, can have high cholesterol. The first test should be between ages 9 and 11.
Can lifestyle changes alone lower cholesterol?
Sometimes, but some people also need medicine. If lifestyle changes alone do not lower your cholesterol enough, you may also need medicine. Keep up the lifestyle changes while you take it.
Sources
- MedlinePlus - Cholesterol
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute - Blood Cholesterol Diagnosis
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute - Blood Cholesterol Treatment
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.
