Is High Cholesterol Genetic? And Other Possible Causes
You’ve tried diet and exercise to lower your cholesterol levels, and while this strategy has been successful, it hasn’t lowered your cholesterol enough to bring it to a healthy level. This may make you wonder: is high cholesterol genetic?
There is a genetic component to high cholesterol, but this is only one facet of your overall health. Lifestyle factors, such as exercise and a healthy diet, remain important in controlling your cholesterol regardless of your family’s medical history.
We’ll take a closer look at the genetic component of cholesterol, what causes high cholesterol, and what treatments can be most effective.
Is High Cholesterol Genetic?
The medical term for high cholesterol that has a genetic component is familial hypercholesterolemia (FH), and researchers believe it focuses on a defect in how your body processes “bad” (LDL) cholesterol. This gene defect is mainly found in the LDL cholesterol receptor which is vital for clearing bad cholesterol from your body.
An estimated 1 in 200 adults has FH, but only 10% are aware that they have it. Overall, FH affects roughly 1.3 million Americans—including children.
Typically, it’s common for cholesterol levels to rise as you age. However, if you have FH, you essentially have high cholesterol levels from an early age—placing you at risk for heart attacks, strokes, and coronary artery disease throughout your life.
What Causes High Cholesterol?
Is high cholesterol genetic? Yes, it can be, but this is just one of many factors that can influence and cause high cholesterol. These include:
- Lifestyle factors: An unhealthy diet, obesity and a sedentary lifestyle can all contribute to high cholesterol
- Chronic kidney disease
- Diabetes
- HIV/AIDS
- Lupus
- Hypothyroidism
- Certain medications taken for other health conditions such as cancer or irregular heartbeats
Your total cholesterol number should be below 200. Ideally, your HDL (good cholesterol) should be greater than 60. However, if not at the ideal level, the HDL should be at least greater than 40 for men and greater than 50 for women.
The bad cholesterol, or LDL, should be less than 100. Your triglycerides should be less than 150.
Is High Cholesterol Genetic and What Are the Risk Factors for Developing High Cholesterol?
While there is a genetic component to high cholesterol, a poor diet featuring too much saturated and trans fats is a major contributor to high cholesterol. That’s why we suggest that our patients avoid fatty cuts of meat and full-fat dairy products, as well as packaged desserts.
Other risk factors include:
- Lack of exercise
- Obesity
- Too much alcohol use
- Age—high cholesterol is more common in those over age 40
- Smoking
How to Lower High Cholesterol
There are several facets of treatment for high cholesterol, and they center around dealing with both genetic and lifestyle components. Of course, we tailor each individual plan to fit your specific situation, so there’s no one blanket answer for how to treat your high cholesterol. However, in general, we recommend:
- Eating a healthy diet that incorporates whole grains, fruits and vegetables
- Limiting the amount of animal fats in your diet
- Maintaining a healthy weight
- Managing your stress level
- Stopping smoking
- Drinking alcohol only in moderation, or refrain from alcohol altogether
In certain cases, such as when there is a genetic component to your cholesterol problems, we may prescribe medication to help.
Raleigh Adult Medicine Helps Patients Lower Their Cholesterol
High cholesterol does not show any outward symptoms; you could have it for years and not be aware of it. This is why we believe wellness visits are so important—they enable us to diagnose conditions such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure and diabetes before they cause long-term complications.
We’ve explored the question: is high cholesterol genetic? While it does have a genetic component, there are also other lifestyle factors that are important to consider as well.
As internal medicine physicians in Raleigh, we understand how high cholesterol can affect every system in your body, placing you at greater risk for heart disease and stroke. That’s why we’ve helped hundreds throughout Raleigh and the Triangle area get their cholesterol down to a healthy level.
Do you know what your cholesterol numbers are? If not, you should schedule an appointment with us to determine if you need help for high cholesterol. Together, we can work toward a healthier life for you.
For more than 20 years, Raleigh Adult Medicine has served as the Triangle area’s premier internal medicine provider. We tailor our treatments to provide the finest personalized health care available for each stage of your adult life. Contact us to schedule an appointment.
