The known risk factors for high cholesterol that you cannot control include:
-
Gender — After menopause, a woman's LDL-cholesterol level goes up, as does her risk for heart disease.
-
Age — Your risk increases if you are a man aged
45 years or older or a woman aged 55 years or older.
-
Family history — Your risk increases if a father or brother was affected by early heart disease (before age 55), or a mother or sister was affected by early heart disease (before age 65).
The factors for high cholesterol that you
can control include:
-
Diet — The saturated fat and cholesterol in the food you eat raise total and LDL-cholesterol levels.
-
Weight — Being overweight can make your LDL-cholesterol level go up and your HDL level go down.
-
Physical activity/exercise — Increased physical activity helps to lower LDL- cholesterol and raise HDL-cholesterol levels. It also helps you lose weight.
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This information is provided by the Cleveland Clinic and is not intended to replace the medical advice of your doctor or health care provider. Please consult your health care provider for advice about a specific medical condition. This document was last reviewed on: 10/25/2004
