What is the medical term for high cholesterol?

What is the medical term for high cholesterol? The answer is hypercholesterolemia. The term describes an abnormally high level of cholesterol in the blood, particularly when referring to elevated low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol.

Cholesterol is a waxy lipid used to build cell membranes and produce hormones and bile acids. Because it does not dissolve well in blood, it travels in particles called lipoproteins. LDL carries cholesterol toward tissues and is commonly called “bad” cholesterol, while high-density lipoprotein (HDL) helps transport cholesterol back toward the liver.

Persistently high LDL can contribute to atherosclerosis, in which fatty deposits build up inside artery walls. Over time, this can raise the risk of coronary artery disease, heart attack, and stroke. Hypercholesterolemia may result from inherited conditions such as familial hypercholesterolemia, diet and lifestyle factors, or other medical conditions and medicines.

Hypercholesterolemia is narrower than hyperlipidemia. Hyperlipidemia means elevated lipids or lipoproteins generally and can include high triglycerides, whereas hypercholesterolemia specifically concerns cholesterol. Hypertension is high blood pressure, and atherosclerosis is a possible consequence—not another name for high cholesterol.