Causes
Many factors determine whether your LDL-cholesterol is high or low, including:
- diet
- weight
- level of physical activity
- age (levels increase with age)
- gender (men have higher cholesterol)
- alcohol consumption
- heredity
A common cause of high cholesterol is eating foods that are high in saturated
fat and dietary cholesterol. Other factors that can increase your cholesterol
levels include an inactive lifestyle and being overweight. In some cases, high
cholesterol is an inherited genetic condition, called familial hypercholesteremia.
This condition puts you at an increased chance of developing heart disease at
an early age.
Some medical conditions, such as diabetes, hypothyroidism, liver disease,
and kidney disease can raise cholesterol levels.