Jan 17, 2026
3 min read
Heart disease is often caused by high cholesterol.Many people do not know they are affected: the symptoms appear subtle.
- The most dangerous consequences of hypercholesterolemia are cardiovascular diseases.
- Fat deposits in blood vessels can burst and cause blood clots.
- Symptoms such as fatigue and shortness of breath can occur due to high cholesterol - but only late.
Every year, heart disease tops the list of causes of death worldwide.Heart attacks and strokes are the most common causes of premature death in men and women.This can have several causes - one of which is high cholesterol.But many people don’t know that they have lipid metabolism problems.
According to nephrologist Valker Schetler, high cholesterol levels often go unnoticed for a long time.ES is not only adults who often have high levels; children and young people can also be affected. Di Can the disorder be diagnosed early, and what symptoms can the affected use to recognize that their cholesterol is too high?
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Over time, high cholesterol causes the arteries to collapse
Along with triglycerides, cholesterol is one of the main components of blood lipids.It plays an important role in the body: cholesterol is involved in the formation of hormones such as estrogen and testosterone and is a precursor for bile acid, which helps the digestion of fat.As part of the cell wall, blood fat controls the function of cells.
Our body can largely cover its cholesterol needs.The liver produces fat in the blood and regulates cholesterol levels.However, genetic and adverse lifestyle factors, such as an unhealthy diet or excessive alcohol consumption, can cause cholesterol to rise too high, leading to a condition called hypercholesterolemia.
So-called low-density lipoprotein, or LDL cholesterol for short, can pose a health risk.Lipoproteins are molecules made of fats (lipids) and proteins.They carry cholesterol in the blood.Because of its lower density, LDL ("Low Density") cholesterol is transported from the liver into the blood, from where cells absorb it.If there is too much, the remaining fat in the blood stays in the blood vessels.Normally, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol is released from the blood vessels and returned to the liver.
Professor Dr. Med.Volker J.J.Schettler is a specialist in internal medicine, nephrology, and intensive care and emergency medicine at the Göttingen Nephrological Center.
High LDL cholesterol can cause heart attack and stroke
However, if the body is full of LDL cholesterol, atherosclerosis develops.This causes fat plaque to rise on the walls of blood vessels, explains Volker Schettler.This is where the risk of LDL cholesterol becomes: "These plaques enlarge over time, so that the blood vessels continue to narrow," warns the internal medicine expert.
On the other hand, precipitation can contribute to high blood pressure: In order for blood to flow through narrowed blood vessels, the heart has to push harder.At the same time, if you have chronic high blood pressure and damage to the blood vessel wall, deposits form faster in the arteries.
On the other hand, high LDL cholesterol can cause life-threatening diseases: "When a plaque ruptures, the body reacts by forming a blood clot: the blood vessel is blocked," explains Stetler."Depending on where the blood vessel blockage occurs, it can lead to a heart attack, stroke or problems with blood flow in the legs, which is called peripheral artery disease (PAD)," said the expert.
In this disease, also known as intermittent claudication, the affected person has pain in the calf and thigh even when walking a little.This forces them to take more breaks - like in front of a window.By the way: In women, heart attacks often present with different symptoms than in men.
Very high cholesterol: Symptoms often appear late
Schettler advises those affected to detect high cholesterol levels as soon as possible: "The longer the high cholesterol levels persist, the greater the risk of cardiovascular disease," he emphasizes.However, fat metabolism disorders often appear only when it is too late.Blood vessel changes such as hardening of the arteries are usually not accompanied by any noticeable symptoms because there are no pain relievers in the vessels.it is not
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Experts say, "Atherosclerosis develops gradually without any symptoms and often goes unnoticed for long periods of time until a cardiovascular disease 'pop' occurs such as a heart attack, stroke, or circulation problem in the legs." However, pathological vascular changes can become apparent even before a blood vessel is completely blocked.
Pain in the legs when walking and problems with wound healing, for example, can indicate poor blood circulation in the legs.In addition, there are often warning signs before a heart attack.Coronary heart disease (CHD) can precede a heart attack.Narrowed coronary arteries lead to later
- constant fatigue and exhaustion,
- shortness of breath during exertion,
- Heart rate and
- pain and tightness in the chest (angina pectoris).
Late symptoms of hypercholesterolemia: The doctor recommends an early diagnosis.
The only way to detect high cholesterol levels in time and prevent problems is to have your doctor perform a blood test.Schettler recommends doing this as soon as possible.Children over five years of age should have a blood test to detect metabolic disorders.
"The measurement is especially important if blood relatives, such as parents, grandparents and siblings, have known high cholesterol, or if relatives have had a stroke or heart attack before the age of 55 in men and before the age of 60 in women," explained Shetler.
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Even without a family history, every adult should know their blood lipid level, according to the expert: "Hesterin should be checked, at the latest, until the age of 18."Blood tests are paid for once by authorized health insurance companies; from the age of 35, every insured person has the right to a free medical examination once every three years.
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Many people are unaware that their cholesterol may be too high and require treatment, depending on their individual risk factors.Limit values of LDL cholesterol are lower compared to previous diseases.This applies, for example, to people who have had a heart attack or have high blood pressure or diabetes.A rapid cholesterol test at home can sometimes prove lipid metabolism disorders.
