The symptoms of high cholesterol - and how to know if it’s ‘good’ or ‘bad’

We all know that high cholesterol is not a good thing, but why is it unhealthy for you - and what’s the difference between “good” and “bad”? If you have high cholesterol, you are not alone. A recent study from Our Future Health found 54% of us have high total cholesterol levels. “The good news is that once you become aware of it, high cholesterol is preventable and treatable,” says Dr Dermot Neely, a former lipid specialist and trustee with Heart UK, the cholesterol charity.

“Cholesterol is a type of blood fat that is made in the liver, found in some foods too. We all need some cholesterol in our bodies to keep us functioning, but having high cholesterol can clog up your arteries.” What are the symptoms of high cholesterol? High cholesterol is symptomless, which is a major concern because if left untreated, it can lead to heart attack and stroke,” says Ruth Goss, a senior cardiac nurse at the British Heart Foundation.

Overt symptoms of high cholesterol may manifest in people with familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH), a hereditary disorder in which the liver is unable to adequately handle cholesterol, where you may suffer from:.