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High cholesterol

Usually silent, but it raises heart risk. Simple to assess and treat.

Speak to a GP about high cholesterolFrom £79

In short

High cholesterol is common and silent, but it's a major, treatable risk factor for heart attack and stroke. A GP can assess your risk, advise on lifestyle, and prescribe a statin where the benefit is clear.

Overview

What is high cholesterol?

Cholesterol is a fatty substance in the blood. Too much of the harmful type (LDL) builds up in the arteries and raises the risk of heart attack and stroke. It causes no symptoms, so it's found on a blood test. Treatment is guided by your overall cardiovascular risk, combining lifestyle changes with medication such as statins where appropriate.

Symptoms

Common symptoms

  • No symptoms in almost all cases (it's found on a blood test)
  • Rarely, fatty lumps around the eyes or tendons in inherited forms
  • Most people feel completely well

When to act

When to see a doctor

Book a GP to have your cholesterol and heart risk assessed, to interpret a test you've had, or to discuss treatment. Seek emergency help (999) for chest pain or stroke symptoms.

When to seek urgent help

Seek urgent help if

  • Chest pain, breathlessness, or stroke symptoms (these are emergencies, call 999, not caused directly by cholesterol but by its consequences)
  • A strong family history of early heart attacks with very high cholesterol (needs assessment for familial hypercholesterolaemia)

Call 999 for life-threatening emergencies or NHS 111 for urgent non-emergency advice.

Treatment

How a private GP can help

  • Review and interpretation of your cholesterol blood test (lipid profile)
  • Assessment of your overall cardiovascular (heart and stroke) risk
  • Lifestyle advice on diet, weight, activity, and smoking
  • A discussion of whether a statin or other treatment is right for you
  • Prescription of lipid-lowering medication where appropriate, with monitoring
  • Referral where very high levels suggest an inherited cause

What we don't do

  • Emergency treatment of heart attack or stroke (call 999)
  • Specialist lipid clinic care for inherited cholesterol disorders (referred on)

Pricing

What it costs

An online consultation about high cholesterol starts at £79 for a 20-minute video appointment. In-pharmacy consultations are £129 and home visits are £189. Your consultation includes one private prescription if appropriate, and a sick note for work if needed. You pay the pharmacy separately for any medication.

See full pricing breakdown

FAQ

Common questions about high cholesterol

Do I need to fast for a cholesterol test?
Usually not, modern lipid tests can be done without fasting in most cases. We'll let you know if a fasting sample is needed for your situation.
Does high cholesterol need treating?
It depends on your overall heart risk, not just the number. We assess your risk and discuss whether lifestyle changes alone, or a statin, is the right approach.
Are statins safe?
For most people, yes, and they significantly reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke. Side effects like muscle aches are uncommon and usually manageable; we monitor treatment.
Can diet alone fix it?
Diet and lifestyle help and are always worthwhile. Whether they're enough depends on your levels and heart risk, which is what the assessment is for.
See all conditions we can help with

Ready to talk to a GP about high cholesterol?

Message Emily on WhatsApp or book online in under 90 seconds. UK-registered doctors, available today.

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7 days a week · 08:00–22:00 · WhatsApp or email