High cholesterol is when you have too much of a fatty substance called cholesterol in your blood. It's mainly caused by eating fatty food, not exercising enough, being overweight, smoking and drinking alcohol. It can also run in families. You can lower your cholesterol by eating healthily and getting more exercise. Some people also need to take medicine. Too much cholesterol can block your blood vessels. It makes you more likely to have heart problems or a stroke.

If your cholesterol test results are outside the healthy range, your health professional will provide advice on how to lower your cholesterol through changes to your diet. They may also advise treatment with medicines, called statins. For information on statins please see the NHS website by clicking here or visit the patient decision aid published by the National Institute for Heath & Care Excellence (NICE).