Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCausesRelationshipHealth RisksManagementFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Causes
Relationship
Health Risks
Management
Frequently Asked Questions
High blood pressureandhigh cholesterolon their own are serious risk factors forheart diseaseandstroke. When both high blood pressure and high cholesterol occur together, they can damage blood vessels, greatly increasing the risk of future complications. To prevent heart disease and stroke, it’s vital to get your cholesterol and blood pressure under control.
Verywell / Ellen Lindner
What Causes High Cholesterol?
Cholesterol doesn’t dissolve in the blood, and it has to be carried around the body in particles calledlipoproteins. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is known commonly as “bad cholesterol,” because it increases the risk of cardiovascular disease. High-density lipoprotein (HDL), on the other hand, is considered “good cholesterol” since it lowers risk.
Genetics and lifestyle factors play a role in causing high cholesterol. Several differentgenesare associated with this condition.
The typical American diet is high in cholesterol and saturated fat, which raises cholesterol. Not getting enough exercise and smoking can also contribute.
Certain diseases and medications can also cause high cholesterol, including:
The Relationship Between High Cholesterol and High Blood Pressure
High blood pressure and high cholesterol both damage the inner lining of blood vessels, known as theendothelium.
Over time, endothelial damage contributes to the buildup of cholesterol plaques and inflammatory cells in the blood vessels throughout the body, known asatherosclerosis.
Endothelial damage also results in improper regulation of blood vessel dilation. The result is stiffened, narrowed arteries that do not respond the way they should.
Prevalence of High Blood Pressure and High CholesterolAccording to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly one-half of adults in the United States have high blood pressure, but only half of these people have their blood pressure treated appropriately.Two-thirds of U.S. adults have high cholesterol, and of these only one-third have it appropriately treated.
Prevalence of High Blood Pressure and High Cholesterol
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly one-half of adults in the United States have high blood pressure, but only half of these people have their blood pressure treated appropriately.Two-thirds of U.S. adults have high cholesterol, and of these only one-third have it appropriately treated.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly one-half of adults in the United States have high blood pressure, but only half of these people have their blood pressure treated appropriately.
Two-thirds of U.S. adults have high cholesterol, and of these only one-third have it appropriately treated.
It is well-known that both high blood pressure and high cholesterol on their own contribute to atherosclerosis and increase the risk of cardiovascular events like heart disease and stroke. But there appears to be a more complicated interplay between high cholesterol and high blood pressure.
For one, when the risk factors for high blood pressure and high cholesterol occur together, they further increase the risk of cardiovascular events. And treating high cholesterol in a patient already treated for high blood pressure further reduces their risk of cardiovascular events.This demonstrates that it’s even more important to treat high blood pressure and high cholesterol when they occur together.
Furthermore, high cholesterol and high blood pressure frequently do occur together, and studies have shown that high cholesterol is associated with and may contribute to high blood pressure later in life.It’s important to look for and treat other risk factors when either one is present.
Potential Health Risks
Both high cholesterol and high blood pressure are well-known risk factors for stroke and heart attacks because they contribute to atherosclerosis.
Atherosclerosisis the buildup of plaque in blood vessels. Depending on the blood vessels affected, this condition can lead to health problems. Finding atherosclerosis in one artery means you are likely to have blockages in other arteries in the body.
Complications of atherosclerosis include:
Signs of Heart Attack or Stroke
Managing Blood Pressure and Cholesterol Levels
Certain lifestyle changes can have a big impact on lowering both blood pressure and cholesterol. In many cases, however, lifestyle changes are not enough to bring numbers down, and medications are needed.
Living an active lifestyle can help keep blood pressure and cholesterol numbers in control. The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends getting at least 150 minutes of aerobic exercise, like walking, biking, or swimming, on a weekly basis.
A Healthy DietEqually important to getting exercise is eating a heart-healthy diet. To help decrease risk of cardiovascular disease, the AHA recommends a diet low in saturated and trans fats, low in sugary and processed foods, and high in the following:FruitsVegetablesBeansNutsWhole grains
A Healthy Diet
Equally important to getting exercise is eating a heart-healthy diet. To help decrease risk of cardiovascular disease, the AHA recommends a diet low in saturated and trans fats, low in sugary and processed foods, and high in the following:FruitsVegetablesBeansNutsWhole grains
Equally important to getting exercise is eating a heart-healthy diet. To help decrease risk of cardiovascular disease, the AHA recommends a diet low in saturated and trans fats, low in sugary and processed foods, and high in the following:
Healthy weight loss can lower both blood pressure and cholesterol.
When lifestyle changes aren’t enough to bring cholesterol and blood pressure levels down, a healthcare provider can prescribe medication to target each condition.
Summary
A Word From Verywell
Even though they may not necessarily cause symptoms, high cholesterol and high blood pressure shouldn’t be ignored, especially when they occur together. A healthy lifestyle that includes frequent exercise and eating a heart-healthy diet can have a dramatic effect on lowering your risk of future heart disease and stroke.
Many people will also need medication to get their numbers in control. Talk with a healthcare provider to understand your risk of heart disease and what actions you can take to prevent future heart attacks and stroke.
High blood pressure often does not cause any symptoms, which is why it’s known as “the silent killer.” With very high blood pressure, some people can have headaches and shortness of breath.
High cholesterol often does not cause symptoms for many years. However, there may be warning signs for related conditions.
In coronary artery disease, blood vessels feeding the heart become blocked with cholesterol, which causesangina. Angina is chest discomfort that often comes on with exercise. Fatigue and shortness of breath may also be present.
Some people who have a genetic disease called familial hypercholesterolemia have extremely high cholesterol and can develop yellowish skin deposits of cholesterol on the back of the ankles, on the knuckles, and around the eyes.
Certain lifestyle changes that lower cholesterol can also lower blood pressure. For example, eating a healthy diet and exercising can help lower both cholesterol and blood pressure.Medications that lower cholesterol do not have as much of an impact on lowering blood pressure, so people with both high blood pressure and high cholesterol typically need separate medications that target each problem separately.
Certain lifestyle changes that lower cholesterol can also lower blood pressure. For example, eating a healthy diet and exercising can help lower both cholesterol and blood pressure.
Medications that lower cholesterol do not have as much of an impact on lowering blood pressure, so people with both high blood pressure and high cholesterol typically need separate medications that target each problem separately.
The most common sign that cholesterol plaque could be blocking the arteries that feed your heart include chest discomfort and shortness of breath, especially with exercise. This is called angina. Signs of heart failure, or a weak heart that does not pump properly, include shortness of breath when exercising or lying flat, waking up in the night feeling short of breath, and leg swelling.
9 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Heart Association.Causes of high cholesterol.Bleakley C, Hamilton K, et al.Endothelial function in hypertension: victim or culprit?J Clin Hypertens.2015;17(8):651-654. doi:10.1111/jch.12546Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Vital signs: High blood pressure and cholesterol.Egan B, Li J, et al.Blood pressure and cholesterol control in hypertensive hypercholesterolemic patients.Circulation. 2013;128(1):29-41. doi:10.1161/circulationaha.112.000500Halperin RO, Sesso HD, et al.Dyslipidemia and the risk of incident hypertension in men.Hypertension. 2006;47(1):45-50. doi:10.1161/01.HYP.0000196306.42418.0eJohns Hopkins Medicine.Atherosclerosis.American Heart Association.American Heart Association recommendations for physical activity in adults and kids.Arnett DK, Blumenthal RS, Albert MA, et al.2019 ACC/AHA guideline on the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease: a report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Clinical Practice Guidelines.Circulation. 2019;140:e596–e646. doi:10.1161/CIR.0000000000000678Grundy SM, Stone NJ, Bailey AL, et al.2018 AHA/ACC/AACVPR/AAPA/ABC/ACPM/ADA/AGS/APhA/ASPC/NLA/PCNA guideline on the management of blood cholesterol: a report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Clinical Practice Guidelines.Circulation. 2019;139:e1082–e1143. doi:10.1161/CIR.0000000000000625.
9 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Heart Association.Causes of high cholesterol.Bleakley C, Hamilton K, et al.Endothelial function in hypertension: victim or culprit?J Clin Hypertens.2015;17(8):651-654. doi:10.1111/jch.12546Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Vital signs: High blood pressure and cholesterol.Egan B, Li J, et al.Blood pressure and cholesterol control in hypertensive hypercholesterolemic patients.Circulation. 2013;128(1):29-41. doi:10.1161/circulationaha.112.000500Halperin RO, Sesso HD, et al.Dyslipidemia and the risk of incident hypertension in men.Hypertension. 2006;47(1):45-50. doi:10.1161/01.HYP.0000196306.42418.0eJohns Hopkins Medicine.Atherosclerosis.American Heart Association.American Heart Association recommendations for physical activity in adults and kids.Arnett DK, Blumenthal RS, Albert MA, et al.2019 ACC/AHA guideline on the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease: a report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Clinical Practice Guidelines.Circulation. 2019;140:e596–e646. doi:10.1161/CIR.0000000000000678Grundy SM, Stone NJ, Bailey AL, et al.2018 AHA/ACC/AACVPR/AAPA/ABC/ACPM/ADA/AGS/APhA/ASPC/NLA/PCNA guideline on the management of blood cholesterol: a report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Clinical Practice Guidelines.Circulation. 2019;139:e1082–e1143. doi:10.1161/CIR.0000000000000625.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Heart Association.Causes of high cholesterol.Bleakley C, Hamilton K, et al.Endothelial function in hypertension: victim or culprit?J Clin Hypertens.2015;17(8):651-654. doi:10.1111/jch.12546Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Vital signs: High blood pressure and cholesterol.Egan B, Li J, et al.Blood pressure and cholesterol control in hypertensive hypercholesterolemic patients.Circulation. 2013;128(1):29-41. doi:10.1161/circulationaha.112.000500Halperin RO, Sesso HD, et al.Dyslipidemia and the risk of incident hypertension in men.Hypertension. 2006;47(1):45-50. doi:10.1161/01.HYP.0000196306.42418.0eJohns Hopkins Medicine.Atherosclerosis.American Heart Association.American Heart Association recommendations for physical activity in adults and kids.Arnett DK, Blumenthal RS, Albert MA, et al.2019 ACC/AHA guideline on the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease: a report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Clinical Practice Guidelines.Circulation. 2019;140:e596–e646. doi:10.1161/CIR.0000000000000678Grundy SM, Stone NJ, Bailey AL, et al.2018 AHA/ACC/AACVPR/AAPA/ABC/ACPM/ADA/AGS/APhA/ASPC/NLA/PCNA guideline on the management of blood cholesterol: a report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Clinical Practice Guidelines.Circulation. 2019;139:e1082–e1143. doi:10.1161/CIR.0000000000000625.
American Heart Association.Causes of high cholesterol.
Bleakley C, Hamilton K, et al.Endothelial function in hypertension: victim or culprit?J Clin Hypertens.2015;17(8):651-654. doi:10.1111/jch.12546
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Vital signs: High blood pressure and cholesterol.
Egan B, Li J, et al.Blood pressure and cholesterol control in hypertensive hypercholesterolemic patients.Circulation. 2013;128(1):29-41. doi:10.1161/circulationaha.112.000500
Halperin RO, Sesso HD, et al.Dyslipidemia and the risk of incident hypertension in men.Hypertension. 2006;47(1):45-50. doi:10.1161/01.HYP.0000196306.42418.0e
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Atherosclerosis.
American Heart Association.American Heart Association recommendations for physical activity in adults and kids.
Arnett DK, Blumenthal RS, Albert MA, et al.2019 ACC/AHA guideline on the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease: a report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Clinical Practice Guidelines.Circulation. 2019;140:e596–e646. doi:10.1161/CIR.0000000000000678
Grundy SM, Stone NJ, Bailey AL, et al.2018 AHA/ACC/AACVPR/AAPA/ABC/ACPM/ADA/AGS/APhA/ASPC/NLA/PCNA guideline on the management of blood cholesterol: a report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Clinical Practice Guidelines.Circulation. 2019;139:e1082–e1143. doi:10.1161/CIR.0000000000000625.
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