OVER half of Brits are secretly battling a ‘silent killer’ condition, according to new data – and it’s recently been linked to an increased risk of dementia.
The condition usually doesn’t cause any symptoms in the early stages and can also raise the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
Using data from over 40,000 customers in 2024, Medichecks analysed cholesterol levels across the UK to explore how location, lifestyle, and biology impact heart health.
It found over 50 per cent of us have dangerously high cholesterol levels, and the UK’s cholesterol trends show clear differences by region, gender, and age, influenced by lifestyle, diet, and genetics.
While London leads with the best HDL ‘good’ cholesterol levels, Yorkshire and the Humber struggles with higher non-HDL cholesterol.
Cholesterol is a fatty substance found in our blood and produced naturally in the liver.
Every cell in our body needs cholesterol to stay healthy, as it plays a key role in maintaining cell membranes, producing vitamin D, bile acid, and essential hormones like testosterone and oestrogen.
However, too much of the wrong type of cholesterol can be dangerous.
HDL ‘good’ cholesterol helps remove excess cholesterol from the bloodstream, reducing the risk of arterial plaque build-up.
Non-HDL ‘bad’ cholesterol includes LDL and other types that can contribute to blocked arteries and cardiovascular disease.
High cholesterol is often caused by an unhealthy diet, lack of exercise, being overweight or obese, smoking and drinking alcohol.
But for some, the story is very different.
Familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) is a genetic condition that causes high cholesterol from birth.
It’s passed down through families and means that about 1 in 250 people are born with high cholesterol – putting them at serious risk of heart disease long before the average person even notices a problem.
Dr Natasha Fernando, Medical Director at Medichecks, said:
“Many people assume they’re safe just because they don’t ‘look’ unhealthy.
“But the reality is that high cholesterol can affect anyone, regardless of their weight, diet, or lifestyle.
“The only way to know your risk is to get tested.”
The symptoms of high cholesterol
High cholesterol doesn’t usually cause symptoms in the early stages. You can only find out if you have it from a blood test.
But buildup of cholesterol can happen over years, and symptoms can appear once arteries are significantly affected, said Dr Fernando.
She warned of the possible late-stage high cholesterol symptoms to look out for:
- Angina (chest pain) – reduced blood flow to the heart.
- Peripheral artery disease (PAD) – leg pain, cramping.
- Xanthomas – fatty deposits under skin (rare).
- Erectile dysfunction – due to restricted blood flow.
When a heart attack or stroke might occur in someone with high cholesterol depends on lifestyle, genetics, and overall health.
Dr Fernando advised: “Once symptoms appear, arteries are already narrowed, a heart attack or stroke could happen within months or years if left untreated.”
Cholesterol’s link to dementia
A study published in January this year in the online issue of Neurology found older adults whose cholesterol changes over time may be more likely to develop dementia than people whose cholesterol is stable
Rob Hobson, Registered Nutritionist and author of Unprocess Your Life, commented: “The research highlights an important aspect of cholesterol management which is its variability over time.
“While we typically focus on absolute cholesterol levels, these fluctuations could signal underlying metabolic instability (irregularities in the body’s ability to regulate cholesterol, blood sugar, and other key markers), potentially increasing the risk of dementia.
“This study also adds to the growing evidence linking cardiovascular health and brain health.”
He added: “It also highlights the importance of long-term dietary patterns that support stable lipid levels.
“The best example is the Mediterranean-style diet rich in healthy fats, fibre, and antioxidants.
“More research is needed, but this study is a good reminder that consistency in heart-healthy habits may be just as important as the numbers you get from a blood test.”
What to eat to lower cholesterol
Diet is one of the best ways to reduce cholesterol, with certain foods shown to have cholesterol-lowering properties.
Rob recommends five foods in particular to keep cholesterol levels in check:
- Oats are high in soluble fibre that binds with cholesterol, preventing it from being absorbed.
- Nuts, especially almonds and walnuts, are rich in monounsaturated fats that help to lower LDL (bad) cholesterol and increase HDL (good) cholesterol.
- Dried fruit (e.g. raisins, sultanas) are rich in soluble fibres that can bind to cholesterol in the gut and help to remove it from the body.
- Oily fish (e.g. salmon and trout) are rich in heart friendly omega-3 fatty acids. These fats can help increase HDL cholesterol and LDL cholesterol.
- Extra virgin olive oil is rich in monounsaturated fats that help to reduce LDL cholesterol and increase HDL cholesterol. This oil is also rich in compounds such as oleocanthal, which has been shown to reduce inflammation in the body.
See below for some other ways to lower cholesterol.
How to lower cholesterol
There are a number of ways to reduce your cholesterol.
High levels of cholesterol can build up in the artery walls and reduce blood flow to the heart.
This increases the risk of a clot forming around the body and also coronary heart disease occurring.
According to the NHS website, high levels can lead to:
- Narrowing of the arteries (atherosclerosis)
- Heart attack
- Stroke
- Transient ischaemic attack (TIA) – often known as a “mini stroke”
- Peripheral arterial disease (PAD)
High cholesterol is mainly caused by eating fatty food, not exercising enough, being overweight, smoking and drinking alcohol. Therefore, to lower your cholesterol:
- Maintain a healthy diet which is low in fatty food. Reduce meat pies, sausages, butter, ghee, cream, hard cheeses, cakes and biscuits and foods with coconut oil. Instead, eat more oily fish, brown rice, nuts and seeds. Increase fruit and vegetable intake, too.
- Give up smoking. You can get support from your GP or NHS Stop Smoking Service.
- Take regular exercise. Aim to do at least 150 minutes exercise per week of walking, swimming or cycling. It’s also advised to do strength training twice per week.
- Cut back on alcohol. Guidelines say alcohol should be limited to 14 units per week. Ask your GP for help if you struggle to reduce your booze.
