Symptoms of high cholesterol usually are rare. High cholesterol levels are generally identified from a blood test. The symptoms seen are actually from the end-result of high cholesterol for health issues such as coronary disease, stroke, and peripheral vascular disease.

Let us break each of these down to look at the symptoms in depth.

Coronary Disease

The primary symptom associated with coronary heart disease is called Angina (chest pain). When a person experiences this, they describe a feeling of "pressure", "squeezing", or a general feeling of "someone sitting on their chest."

These symptoms can spread to the jaw, neck, or arm regions of the body and although the primary symptom is the feeling of pressure in the chest region, some individuals experience that feeling of pressure in other areas and not the chest.

In addition to the reported pressure, other symptoms can include nausea, shortness of breath, sweating, lightheadedness or dizziness, and heart palpitations.

Angina can be directly correlated to coronary heart disease and should be taken seriously. However, there are other stressors such as over-exertion, high-level of emotion, or even after eating a huge meal to be considered. In these circumstances a short period of rest, five minutes or so, will reduce or eliminate the symptoms. Again, if you have any of these symptoms, it is better to be checked out by a physician than to assume everything is fine.

Stroke

There are four primary symptoms pertaining to a stroke although often times this is a sudden event with little or no warning.

1. The sudden onset of numbness or weakness of face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body
2. Confusion, difficulty speaking or understanding
3. Sudden trouble with vision in one or both eyes
4. Dizziness, loss of balance, lack of coordination

Other symptoms can include:

1. Nausea and/or vomiting
2. Fever
3. Fainting, convulsions, and even coma

Peripheral Vascular Disease

This is a disease consisting of the blood vessels. Arteries that carry blood to your extremities become narrow or clogged. The outcome is that the blood flow is slowed or stopped completely.

The primary symptoms of this disease are:

1. Numbness and/or tingling in the lower extremities
2. A cold sensation in the lower extremities
3. Open sores or ulcers on the lower extremities that do not heal normally