What are the risk factors and causes of high cholesterol?
High cholesterol results from controllable and uncontrollable factors. • Uncontrollable influences on high cholesterol – A high cholesterol level, high LDL cholesterol level, and low HDL cholesterol level can be inherited, or passed genetically. In addition, cholesterol level increases with age. Men generally develop high cholesterol at a younger age than women, but cholesterol levels increase at equivalent rates in post-menopausal women and in men over 50. • Controllable influences on high cholesterol – Controllable causes of high cholesterol are high saturated fat diets, inactive and sedentary habits, obesity, diabetes, and smoking. These conditions increase LDL cholesterol and/or decrease HDL cholesterol levels.
