It is often very difficult to determine the symptoms of high cholesterol. At least it is in most cases. The vast majority of elevated levels of cholesterol are usually discovered be an ordinary blood testing. Also, if the levels are high enough and high blood pressure symptoms are also found, there are serious complications involved at that point.

However, symptoms of high cholesterol can be found in patients with excessively high levels of cholesterol. Such symptoms of severely high cholesterol might be pain caused by excessive fat deposits in the joints and tendons (this condition is called xanthomas), as well as liver and spleen enlargement.

Liver or spleen enlargement can usually be determined by a physician simply touching the areas; a liver or spleen enlargement is fairly easy to detect. In addition, another symptom of severely high cholesterol could be severe abdominal pain caused by pancreatitis.

As previously stated, elevated cholesterol levels are generally not very symptom indicative, but usually lead to more serious conditions. Other serious, and potentially fatal, conditions associated with high cholesterol are heart disease, hypertension or peripheral vascular disease.

High cholesterol can lead to plaque being deposited in the arteries. This can cause blockage of the Coronary artery. This blockage can lead to a decreased supply of oxygen to the heart that can lead to coronary failue or heart attack.

At times, although it is rare, people suffering from lipid disorders may show symptoms of high blood pressure. For those with a family history of these disorders in addition to high blood pressure there may be cholesterol deposits which are abnormal which collect in the skin surrounding the eyes and the eyelid tissues.

Additionally, the deposits of cholesterol can form small lumps that appear to be almost boil-like on the feet and hands. Furthermore, this strange formation of cholesterol build up can give the feet, legs and hands a yellow color that also appears to be in streaks.