What is high cholesterol?
Cholesterol is a fatty substance known as a lipid that’s produced by your liver and assists in the production of cell membranes, some hormones, and vitamin D. Your body produces two kinds of cholesterol — high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL).
Cholesterol treatment targets LDL, the “bad” cholesterol. Too much LDL in your blood means you have a condition called hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol). High LDL can eventually clog your blood vessels, leading to high blood pressure and other health complications that can become life-threatening.
What causes high cholesterol?
High cholesterol can be caused by genetic factors, but most of the time, it occurs as a result of eating a diet high in animal products and saturated fat and leading a sedentary lifestyle.
Other things that can contribute to high cholesterol include:
- Being overweight
- Smoking
- Excessive alcohol consumption
- Medications containing hormones and steroids
- Diabetes, hypothyroidism, and other chronic conditions
As you age, your risk of developing high cholesterol increases.
Does high cholesterol have symptoms?
As cholesterol builds up in your arteries, it can lead to complications like:
- High blood pressure
- Arteriosclerosis (narrowing of the arteries)
- Angina (chest pain)
- Heart attack
- Stroke
- Chronic kidney disease
Because many patients with high cholesterol never have symptoms, you should have your cholesterol checked regularly. A simple blood test can monitor cholesterol levels and provide an accurate diagnosis of high cholesterol.
How can high cholesterol be treated?
When Dr. Kazeem determines that you have high cholesterol, he designs a personalized care plan to address your specific condition. Your cholesterol management plan can include:
- Regular cholesterol monitoring
- Nutritional and lifestyle counseling
- Medically supervised weight loss programs
- Statins or another medication
Dr. Kazeem also recommends preventive cardiology care for patients diagnosed with high cholesterol. This not only helps prevent heart failure, but it also helps prevent renal (kidney) failure, which can be caused by cardiac conditions brought on by high cholesterol.
With proper cholesterol management, Dr. Kazeem and his team at Elk Medical can help you continue to lead a robust, active life despite your diagnosis of high cholesterol. For more information or to schedule a consultation, call Elk Medical today or request an appointment online.
