What condition is characterized by high cholesterol levels?

Hypercholesterolemia is a condition that is specifically defined by elevated levels of cholesterol in the blood. Cholesterol is a fatty substance that's necessary for the formation of cell membranes, hormones, and vitamin D, but when levels are too high, it can lead to serious health issues, particularly cardiovascular diseases.

The term "hypercholesterolemia" explicitly refers to issues surrounding cholesterol levels, making it a direct match to the question. This condition is often assessed through blood tests measuring low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels. It is crucial for medical professionals to monitor and manage hypercholesterolemia to reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke, and other related conditions.

Other choices like asthma, a respiratory condition, and hypertension, which refers to high blood pressure, are not related to cholesterol levels at all. Atherosclerosis, while associated with high cholesterol, is actually a condition where arteries become narrowed and hardened due to plaque buildup, which can result from high cholesterol among other factors; it does not specifically denote high cholesterol levels by itself. Thus, hypercholesterolemia is the most accurate representation of high cholesterol levels.