Symptoms of High Cholesterol
Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that your liver produces naturally. It’s vital for the formation of cell membranes, vitamin D, and certain hormones. Cholesterol doesn’t dissolve in water and therefore can't travel through the body itself. Particles known as lipoproteins help transport cholesterol through the bloodstream. There are two major forms of lipoproteins. Low-density lipoproteins (LDL), also known as "bad cholesterol," can build up in the arteries and lead to serious health problems, such as a heart attack or stroke. High-density lipoproteins (HDL), sometimes called "good cholesterol," help return the LDL cholesterol to the liver for elimination.

A high level of cholesterol in the blood doesn't have obvious symptoms, but it can increase your risk for conditions that do have symptoms, including heart disease, stroke and other circulatory problems.

The first most people know about having high cholesterol is when it is picked up during routine blood tests. However, high cholesterol is sometimes called a 'silent killer' as others don’t know about their cholesterol problem until they develop other problems or have a heart attack. Also:
-- Soft, yellowish growths or lesions on the skin called xanthelasma may indicate a genetic predisposition to high cholesterol.
-- Many people who are obese or have diabetes also have high cholesterol.
-- In men, impotence may be due to arteries affected by excessive blood cholesterol.