Cholesterol screening is part of preventive health and a health marker to monitor. If you see your cholesterol numbers climbing or are diagnosed with high cholesterol, taking action can reduce your risk of serious health issues, including heart disease.
Saka Kazeem, MD, and the team at Elk Medical provide guidance and support to residents of the Crown Heights community in Brooklyn, New York, who are striving to lower their cholesterol to healthy levels.
Your body needs cholesterol to thrive. This waxy, sticky substance is essential for cell development, and it creates important vitamins and hormones. Your liver produces all the cholesterol you need, but you also get additional cholesterol from food sources.
When your cholesterol levels exceed what your body needs, the excess circulates in your blood and can adhere to your artery walls. That can lead to blockages that dramatically increase your risk of heart attack and stroke.
If your cholesterol isn’t at a dangerous level and your overall health is stable, you can try to bring your numbers down without drug therapy.
But if you already have one or more chronic health conditions, heart disease, or a high risk of serious health problems, you might need medication to bring your cholesterol down quickly and avoid significant harm.
Even people who rely on medication to manage cholesterol benefit from positive changes. Managing cholesterol is a lifelong process, sometimes requiring drug therapy and lifestyle modification.
Making meaningful and sustainable lifestyle changes is a great way to manage cholesterol. You may tackle 1-2 of these changes at a time or prefer to overhaul your lifestyle for rapid improvement. No matter how you go about it, these 10 changes can enhance your health.
Learn how to read nutrition labels and identify foods that contain these dangerous fats.
It may seem like odd advice, but consuming more foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids can lower your overall cholesterol. Options include salmon, flaxseed, and walnuts.
As a rule, foods that are naturally bright and colorful are healthier for you than those that are beige or brown. Adding more colorful fruits and vegetables to your daily meals can bring down cholesterol and help you feel great.
If you’re a smoker, find a smoking cessation program that works for you. Even occasional smoking can wreak havoc on your health and increase your cholesterol.
If you routinely consume alcohol, take a close look at how much. Heavy drinking is linked to high cholesterol and increases your risk of heart failure, stroke, and high blood pressure.
Many people are surprised to learn how effective walking can be for managing weight and lowering cholesterol. Almost everyone can fit in a couple of brief walks throughout the day, or a longer walk after dinner.
Find a form of exercise that you enjoy. Whether it’s an at-home yoga program or an adult softball league, there are hundreds of ways to stay active and have fun.
If you’re overweight or obese, losing excess weight is one of the most impactful things you can do to improve your cholesterol, overall health, and quality of life.
Take steps to improve your sleep quality and seek treatment for issues such as sleep apnea or insomnia. Your body needs restful sleep to thrive.
Schedule routine visits at Elk Medical to track your cholesterol and monitor your progress. Watching your levels improve can help keep you motivated.
When you’re ready to take control of your high cholesterol, we’re ready to help you set and reach your goals. Call Elk Medical today to schedule your visit.
