High Cholesterol: Symptoms You Can't Feel, Risks You Can

Unlike a fever or a sprain, high cholesterol typically produces no symptoms at all. Most people find out through a routine blood test, not because they felt unwell. This is precisely why it's sometimes called a "silent" risk factor — by the time it causes a heart attack or stroke, the damage has often been building for years.

Risk factors worth paying attention to include family history of heart disease, a diet high in saturated and trans fats, being overweight, smoking, and a sedentary lifestyle. Age also plays a role — risk generally increases as you get older, regardless of how you feel day to day.

A simple lipid panel (a Lab Request) can tell you where you stand. If your levels come back high, that's a conversation to have with a doctor about lifestyle changes and, if needed, medication — not something to guess about based on symptoms that likely won't show up.