A condition characterized by abnormally high levels of fats (lipids) in the blood, including cholesterol and triglycerides, increasing cardiovascular disease risk.
Get regular cholesterol screening starting at age 20 and every 5 years (more frequently if you have risk factors). Seek immediate care if you experience chest pain, sudden severe headache, difficulty speaking, weakness on one side of body, or severe abdominal pain—these may indicate complications.
Find a Specialist NowHigh cholesterol, medically known as hyperlipidemia, is one of the major risk factors for heart disease and stroke—the leading causes of death in the Philippines. Despite its serious health implications, high cholesterol typically causes no symptoms until it leads to a cardiovascular event. Understanding and managing your cholesterol is essential for protecting your heart.
Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance found in all cells of the body. Your body needs cholesterol to make hormones, vitamin D, and substances that help digest food. The body makes all the cholesterol it needs, but cholesterol is also found in foods from animal sources.
Cholesterol travels through the bloodstream attached to proteins called lipoproteins:
LDL (Low-Density Lipoprotein): Often called "bad" cholesterol, LDL carries cholesterol to the arteries. High LDL leads to plaque buildup in artery walls.
HDL (High-Density Lipoprotein): Often called "good" cholesterol, HDL carries cholesterol away from the arteries to the liver for removal. Higher HDL levels are protective.
Triglycerides: Another type of fat in the blood. High triglycerides combined with high LDL or low HDL increase cardiovascular risk.
Total Cholesterol: The sum of all cholesterol in your blood.
Cholesterol levels are measured in milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL):
Total Cholesterol:
LDL Cholesterol:
HDL Cholesterol:
Triglycerides:
When there's too much LDL cholesterol in the blood, it can deposit in the walls of arteries, forming plaques (atherosclerosis):
Several factors contribute to the high prevalence of hyperlipidemia among Filipinos:
Dietary Patterns:
Lifestyle Factors:
Healthcare Factors:
Factors You Cannot Control:
Factors You Can Control:
Heart-Healthy Diet:
The Filipino Heart-Healthy Plate:
Physical Activity:
Weight Management:
Other Lifestyle Changes:
When lifestyle changes aren't enough, medications can help:
Statins (Most Commonly Prescribed):
Ezetimibe (Zetia):
PCSK9 Inhibitors:
Fibrates:
Omega-3 Fatty Acids:
Bile Acid Sequestrants:
Familial Hypercholesterolemia:
Diabetes and Cholesterol:
After a Heart Attack or Stroke:
Monitoring:
Taking Medications:
Daily Habits:
When Eating Out:
Even if your cholesterol is currently normal:
High cholesterol is a serious condition, but it's highly manageable. Through lifestyle changes and, when needed, medications, you can significantly reduce your risk of heart attack and stroke. Don't wait for symptoms—high cholesterol rarely announces itself until damage is done.
Get your cholesterol checked. Know your numbers. Take action.
"Ang puso mo, alagaan mo." (Take care of your heart.)
High cholesterol increases your risk of heart disease. Learn which foods to eat and avoid, and lifestyle changes that can naturally lower your cholesterol levels.
A basic annual physical exam runs about ₱1,000 and an executive package can pass ₱15,000 — and the difference is not always worth the money. Here is what a standard APE actually includes, which tests matter at your age, how to prepare, and what to do with the results.
You got your results back, three values are flagged, and your follow-up is in two weeks. This is a plain-language guide to the numbers on a standard Philippine lab report — what CBC, FBS, HbA1c, lipid profile, and creatinine mean, and which flags actually matter.
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