The cardiologist named the reasons for high cholesterol, in addition to excess weight and smoking

Brief retelling from RIA II

High cholesterol can be caused not only by excess weight and smoking, but also by heredity, chronic stress, taking certain medications and certain diseases.

About 20–30% of cholesterol comes from food, and about 70–80% is synthesized by the body itself, mainly in the liver.

If your LDL (low-density lipoprotein) level is newly detected or unexpectedly high, it is worth checking to see if there is a secondary cause for the increase, such as thyroid disease, diabetes, liver or kidney problems.

MOSCOW, August 9 - RIA Novosti. The causes of high cholesterol can be not only excess weight and smoking, but also heredity, chronic stress, taking certain medications and certain diseases, cardiologist, functional diagnostics doctor at the European Medical Center (EMC) Rashid Songurov told RIA Novosti.

“High cholesterol is not always associated with being overweight or eating fatty foods. About 20–30% of cholesterol comes from food, and about 70–80% is synthesized by the body itself, mainly in the liver. So, a high level of LDL (low-density lipoprotein) may well be present in a person who eats normally and is not overweight,” Songurov said.

According to him, heredity plays a big role. For example, in familial hypercholesterolemia, LDL levels may be high regardless of diet. Age, physical activity, smoking, chronic stress and metabolic characteristics also matter.

“Sometimes the reason is not related to lifestyle at all. Cholesterol can increase with hypothyroidism, diabetes, some liver and kidney diseases, as well as while taking certain medications. Therefore, if LDL is newly detected or unexpectedly high, it is worth checking whether there is a secondary reason for its increase,” the doctor noted.