High Cholesterol: What It Is, How It Affects You, and What You Can Do

When you hear high cholesterol, a condition where too much fatty substance builds up in your blood, increasing your risk of heart attack and stroke. Also known as hyperlipidemia, it doesn’t cause symptoms—but it quietly damages your arteries every day. The real troublemaker is low-density lipoprotein, the type of cholesterol that sticks to artery walls and forms plaque. This isn’t just about your diet—it’s about how your body processes fat, how your kidneys handle waste, and even what medications you’re taking.

Statins, a class of drugs that lower LDL cholesterol by blocking its production in the liver are the most common treatment. But they don’t work the same for everyone. For example, if you love grapefruit, you might be putting yourself at risk. grapefruit and statins, a dangerous combination that can spike drug levels in your blood, leading to muscle breakdown and kidney failure. Not all statins react the same way—some are safer than others—but most doctors will tell you to skip grapefruit entirely if you’re on one.

High cholesterol doesn’t live in isolation. It’s tied to chronic kidney disease, where high LDL makes kidney damage worse. It’s also linked to heart failure, diabetes, and even the meds you take for those conditions. That’s why so many of the articles here focus on how drugs like statins, diuretics, and blood thinners interact with your cholesterol levels. You’ll find real comparisons between medications, clear warnings about food interactions, and practical advice on what to eat—or avoid—when your numbers are up.

You won’t find vague advice like "eat less fat" here. You’ll find specifics: which statins are safest with kidney issues, why some people still get plaque even on medication, and how to tell if your treatment is actually working. Whether you’re just learning about your cholesterol numbers or you’ve been managing them for years, the guides below give you the real talk—not the fluff—on what matters most for your heart and your body.