The medical term for high cholesterol is hypercholesterolemia, which means too much cholesterol in the blood. On problem lists you will also see the wider terms hyperlipidemia, shortened to HLD, and dyslipidemia.
The long word breaks into clean parts: hyper means above or excessive, cholesterol is the waxy fat itself, and the ending emia means a condition of the blood. People most often meet it on a lab report after a lipid panel, on a visit summary, or in a list of conditions that raise heart risk. Below, the related terms are sorted out, sample chart lines are decoded, and the four numbers on a report are explained.
At a glance
Medical term
HypercholesterolemiaWord parts
hyper (excess) + cholesterol + emia (blood condition)Broader terms
Main lab test
Lipid panel (total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, triglycerides)Inherited form
Familial hypercholesterolemiaWhere you see it
Problem lists, lab results, cardiology and primary care notes
What the medical term for high cholesterol covers
Hypercholesterolemia is diagnosed from a blood test, not from symptoms. Most people with it feel completely well, which is why it is usually found on routine screening. The concern is long term: extra cholesterol, especially LDL, can build up in artery walls and narrow them over many years, raising the chance of CAD, a heart attack or a stroke.
The term is about the blood level only. It does not say what caused the high reading. Diet, body weight, activity, other conditions such as an underactive thyroid, certain medicines, and family genes can all play a part.
Hypercholesterolemia, hyperlipidemia and dyslipidemia compared
These three words overlap, and charts often use them loosely. The table shows the strict meanings.
| Term | Strict meaning |
|---|---|
| Hypercholesterolemia | High cholesterol in the blood, often high LDL |
| Hyperlipidemia | High blood fats of any kind, cholesterol or triglycerides |
| Hypertriglyceridemia | High triglycerides specifically |
| Dyslipidemia | Any unhealthy lipid pattern, including low HDL |
| Mixed hyperlipidemia | Both cholesterol and triglycerides are raised |
In daily practice, many clinicians write hyperlipidemia or HLD even when only cholesterol is high. If the exact pattern matters to you, the lab values themselves give the clearest answer.
Reading the numbers on a lipid panel
A standard lipid panel reports four values, usually in milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) in the United States. Total cholesterol is the overall amount. LDL is often called the bad cholesterol because it is the type that builds up in arteries. HDL is often called the good cholesterol because it helps carry cholesterol away. Triglycerides are another kind of blood fat.
For many adults, a total cholesterol under about 200 mg/dL is described as desirable, but goals for LDL depend heavily on a person's overall heart risk. Each lab prints its own reference range, and your clinician sets targets for you personally. Some panels are drawn after fasting, which a note may record as a fasting sample.
How it appears in real chart lines
Problem list: "Hypercholesterolemia, on statin." The person has high cholesterol and takes a statin, a medicine class that lowers LDL. Atorvastatin and rosuvastatin are generic examples.
Assessment line: "HLD, LDL 162, discussed diet and exercise, recheck lipids 3 mo." High blood lipids, an LDL reading of 162, lifestyle discussed, and a repeat panel planned in about three months. Sample format only.
Notes about heart risk often list hypercholesterolemia next to high blood pressure, diabetes and smoking, because together these shape treatment decisions.
Familial hypercholesterolemia
Familial hypercholesterolemia, sometimes shortened to FH, is an inherited form in which the body cannot clear LDL normally. People with it can have very high LDL from childhood, and heart disease may appear at a younger age than usual. Clues include a strong family history of early heart attacks and, in some people, fatty deposits in tendons or around the eyes.
Because it runs in families, finding it in one relative usually prompts clinicians to suggest testing for parents, brothers, sisters and children.
For students: building and decoding the word
Hypercholesterolemia is a good practice word because each part is common. The prefix hyper also appears in hyperglycemia and hypertension. The ending emia appears in anemia and hyperkalemia. Swap hyper for hypo and you get hypocholesterolemia, a low level, which is far less common. Learning these pieces on the medical terminology hub makes long condition names much faster to read.
These explanations are general. Whether your cholesterol needs treatment, and which kind, is a conversation for your own doctor or pharmacist.
Frequently asked questions
What is the medical term for high cholesterol?
The medical term is hypercholesterolemia. Many charts instead use the broader word hyperlipidemia, abbreviated HLD, which covers high cholesterol, high triglycerides or both.
Does hyperlipidemia mean exactly high cholesterol?
Not exactly. Hyperlipidemia means high blood fats of any type, while hypercholesterolemia points to cholesterol in particular. Everyday notes tend to swap them freely.
Does high cholesterol cause symptoms?
Usually it does not. Most people only learn about it from a blood test, which is why routine lipid screening is common in adult checkups.
What is dyslipidemia?
Dyslipidemia is a general term for any unhealthy pattern of blood fats. It includes high LDL, high triglycerides and low HDL, alone or in combination.