A waxy substance present in the blood, required to build healthy cells, is termed as cholesterol. Cholesterol levels higher than normal are termed as hypercholesterolemia, and increase the risk of heart disease. Excess cholesterol gets deposited on the vessel wall and over a period of time can cause blockages, which might result in a stroke or a heart attack.

Factors causing high cholesterol include:
•Physical inactivity, i.e. sedentary life style
•Obesity
•Family history
•Genetics
•Smoking
•A diet which is not healthy (eating foods high in fats and transfats)

You are at an increased risk of developing high cholesterol if you are obese, physically inactive, on an unhealthy diet high in saturated and trans fats, or sugars; if you are a smoker, have diabetes, or above 50 years age.

The condition of high cholesterol can be diagnosed as follows:
•Taking history (past and current medical history, drug history, lifestyle pattern) of an individual by a physician
•Blood tests used to check level of cholesterol such as total cholesterol, HDL and LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides.

High levels of cholesterol do not produce any symptoms, in particular. Hence, blood tests are required to diagnose it. In case of very high cholesterol one may notice fatty deposits above the eyes called xanthomas.