The only way to know if you have high cholesterol is through a blood test, typically called a cholesterol test or lipid panel. High cholesterol usually does not cause noticeable symptoms, so testing is essential to detect it. Common factors that might prompt a test include being over 40, being overweight, having diabetes or high blood pressure, a family history of heart disease, or lifestyle risk factors like smoking and poor diet. There are some physical signs that may suggest risk, such as cholesterol deposits in the skin or around the eyes, yellowish lumps or patches on the skin, or swollen tendons, but these are less common and usually appear in advanced cases. Most people do not have symptoms until cholesterol has significantly affected their heart or blood vessels, potentially leading to heart attacks or strokes. If concerned about cholesterol, one should talk to a healthcare provider about getting a blood test, which may involve fasting or a simple finger-prick test, to measure total cholesterol and the types including LDL ("bad" cholesterol) and HDL ("good" cholesterol).
