What Is Hypercholesterolemia?
Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance. It plays an important role in many body functions, such as fat digestion, hormone production, or cell membrane building. The body may produce cholesterol on its own, but you can also obtain it from food. Hypercholesterolemia occurs when the cholesterol levels in the blood are higher than usual. Although the condition is mostly symptom-free, it would increase the risk of many diseases in the long term, especially strokes or heart attacks. In the next sections, we will learn more about hypercholesterolemia. [1]
Symptoms
In most cases, people with hypercholesterolemia do not show any clear symptoms. Over time, the arteries can be narrowed and cause some brain and heart issues. This eventually leads to memory issues, angina or heart-related chest pain, and other signs of the coronary artery. A special type called familial hypercholesterolemia may cause cholesterol to build up in a few unusual areas. For instance, it would accumulate in the tendons and cause yellow lumps in the fingers, hands, and tendons. Also, you would notice yellow skin spots around the eyelids. [2]
