• High cholesterol is when you have too much of a fatty substance called cholesterol in your blood.
• You're more likely to get high cholesterol if you're over 50, a man, you've been through the menopause, or you're of South Asian or sub-Saharan African origin. It can also run in families.
• It can also be caused by eating fatty food, not exercising enough, being overweight, smoking and drinking alcohol.
• You can lower your cholesterol by eating healthily and getting more exercise. Some people also need to take medicine.
• Too much cholesterol can block your blood vessels. It makes you more likely to have heart problems or a stroke.
• High cholesterol does not usually cause symptoms. You can only find out if you have it from a blood test.

Heart UK has information about inherited high cholesterol that starts at a young age (familial hypercholesterolaemia).