High cholesterol

High cholesterol is a condition in which blood cholesterol levels exceed healthy ranges, raising the risk of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease.

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Low-density lipoprotein: A lipoprotein particle that carries cholesterol from the liver to tissues and can deposit it in artery walls. Elevated LDL cholesterol is a major driver of atherosclerotic plaque formation.
Lipid profile: A blood test measuring cholesterol and triglycerides, often including calculated or measured LDL and HDL cholesterol. It establishes which lipid measures are elevated and supports treatment decisions.
LDL receptor: A cell-surface protein that removes LDL particles from the bloodstream by taking them into cells. Reduced receptor function is a common biological cause of high LDL cholesterol.
Hypertriglyceridemia: An abnormal elevation of triglycerides in the blood. It is a distinct lipid abnormality that may coexist with, but is not identical to, high cholesterol.
Atherosclerosis: A disease in which fatty, inflammatory plaques build up inside arteries and restrict blood flow. It is the principal arterial process linking high cholesterol to cardiovascular events.
Statin: A class of medicines that lowers LDL cholesterol by inhibiting hepatic cholesterol synthesis and increasing LDL clearance. Statins are the main drug treatment for reducing cholesterol-related cardiovascular risk.
APOB gene: A gene encoding apolipoprotein B, a key structural component of LDL and other lipoproteins. Certain variants impair LDL clearance and can cause inherited cholesterol elevation.
High-density lipoprotein: A lipoprotein particle involved in transporting cholesterol from tissues toward the liver. HDL cholesterol is often discussed alongside LDL, but its level is not simply the inverse of disease risk.
Apolipoprotein B: A structural protein on atherogenic lipoproteins, including LDL, that helps estimate their particle number. Its blood concentration can reveal atherogenic particle burden beyond LDL cholesterol levels.
Ezetimibe: A medicine that reduces intestinal absorption of cholesterol, lowering the amount delivered to the liver. It can lower LDL further when statins alone do not achieve the desired reduction.