Having high cholesterol is no joke. It can put you at risk for developing heart problems,

Cholesterol is a substance in your liver that protects your nerves and produces vital cells and hormones. You can eat both healthy and unhealthy cholesterol in various foods. Both of these types have different effects on the body.

Good cholesterol actually removes added cholesterol from your bloodstream. Bad cholesterol, on the other hand, tends to build up in the bloodstream. Over time, this narrows or even blocks your arteries. This has serious consequences for your health.

But how do you know if you have high cholesterol? Actually, high cholesterol is a 'silent' issue. It doesn't have obvious symptoms. But there are signs (or risk factors) that could indicate that you are approaching high levels of cholesterol.

In this article, we will share five signs of high cholesterol so you can spot it before it's too late.

Blood test results

The best way (and only sure way) to evaluate whether you have high cholesterol levels is by taking a blood test. A blood test is designed to check for high levels of bad cholesterol, otherwise known as low-density lipoprotein (LPD).

If the blood test indicates 160 mg/dL or higher, then your level is considered high. When there are high levels of LPD in your bloodstream, then you are at risk of complications.

If you want to learn more about blood tests, then read on here.

Symptoms of Heart Disease

One of the dangers of high cholesterol is serious heart issues. For example, bad cholesterol results in a build-up of plaque in your bloodstream. This reduces or cuts off the blood supply to the brain, resulting in a stroke.

Any symptoms of heart diseases may indicate high levels of cholesterol in your body. These symptoms include (but aren't limited to):

• Chest pain
• Extreme fatigue
• Nausea
• Acute pain in joints, neck, or back
• Numbness or coldness

Diet of Unhealthy Fats

When you eat unhealthy, saturated fats regularly, this can indicate that you are at risk of high cholesterol. These fats are found in packaged products, cookies, and sweets, or crackers and popcorn.

Natural foods like red meat and full-fat dairy products can also increase your cholesterol.

Unhealthy Lifestyle

If you have an unhealthy lifestyle in terms of movement and habit, then you also may be increasing your cholesterol levels. Here are two examples:

Smoking puts you at high risk. This is because smoking damages the walls of your blood vessels and increases the risk of accumulating fats. Smoking also lowers your levels of good cholesterol.

Exercise boosts good cholesterol. This means if you lead a relatively sedentary lifestyle, you are at higher risk of high levels of bad cholesterol.

Obesity and Large Waist Circumference

If you are obese or very overweight, your chances of high cholesterol increases. It blunts the way your body reacts to fat. It produces more bad cholesterol and decreases the levels of good cholesterol.

Combating Signs of High Cholesterol

If you see these signs of high cholesterol, then it's highly recommended to take some action to combat it!

How to lower cholesterol? Firstly, visit your doctor for a blood test and for medically-supported solutions. Secondly, make changes in your lifestyle by eating healthier, moving more, and not smoking.

Make sure to read more of our articles on health for the best possible version of yourself.