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High Cholesterol

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Causes & Risk Factors

A lipid disorder increases your risk for atherosclerosis, and thus for heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure (hypertension), and other problems.

There are many types of cholesterol. The ones talked about most are:

Total cholesterol - all the cholesterols combined
HDL cholesterol - often called "good" cholesterol
LDL cholesterol - often called "bad" cholesterol

There are several genetic disorders (passed down through families) that lead to abnormal levels of cholesterol and triglycerides. They include:

Abnormal cholesterol and triglyceride levels may also be caused by:

Being overweight or obese. See: Metabolic syndrome
Certain medications, including birth control pills, estrogen, corticosteroids, certain diuretics, beta blockers, and certain antidepressants
Diseases such as diabetes, hypothyroidism, Cushing syndrome, polycystic ovary syndrome, and kidney disease
Excessive alcohol use
Fatty diets that are high in saturated fats (found mainly in red meat, egg yolks, and high-fat dairy products) and trans fatty acids (found in commercial processed food products)
Lack of exercise
Smoking (which reducess HDL "good" cholesterol)

Lipid disorders are more common in men than in women.

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Cholesterol Blood Increased
The medical term for high blood cholesterol and triglycerides is lipid disorder. Such a disorder occurs when you have too many fatty substances in your blood. These substances include cholesterol and triglycerides. More »
ADAM

Smoking
Smoking is the inhalation of the smoke of burning tobacco encased in cigarettes, pipes, and cigars. Casual smoking is the act of smoking only occasionally, usually in a social situation or to relieve stress . A smoking habit is a physical addictio... More »
Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine

Diabetes
Diabetes is a chronic (lifelong) disease marked by high levels of sugar in the blood. See also: Gestational diabetes; Type 1 diabetes; Type 2 diabetes; Metabolic syndrome. More »
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