Cholesterol is a type of waxy fat in your blood that helps produce hormones, vitamin D, and digestive fluids. However, too much cholesterol can lead to serious health issues, including heart disease, heart attack, and stroke.
Unfortunately, high cholesterol is a prevalent issue in the United States.
At Clover Internal Medicine Associates in Fort Worth, Texas, Elaine Phuah, DO, MBA, FACOI, Leon Tio, DO, MA, FACOI, and the rest of our team prioritize protecting your health by offering routine health screenings, including cholesterol checks.
This month’s blog focuses on how high cholesterol could affect you if not caught early and how we can help you manage the condition.
Your liver produces two types of lipoproteins for cholesterol to travel through your bloodstream: high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL). HDL helps carry excess LDL cholesterol out of your arteries to your liver for disposal.
However, LDL cholesterol can build up in your arteries, forming fatty deposits called plaque. Excess plaque buildup narrows arteries and restricts blood flow, putting you at risk for dangerous health complications such as heart disease or a stroke.
Unfortunately, high cholesterol is a silent disease that doesn’t cause symptoms until it becomes serious. Because of this, regular visits to your healthcare provider are vital, allowing us to catch high cholesterol early.
Eating foods high in cholesterol, saturated fats, and trans fats contributes to high cholesterol development. Some health conditions, such as chronic kidney disease, thyroid disease, diabetes, and lupus, can affect how your body produces and uses cholesterol, which can lead to high cholesterol levels.
Other factors that can put you at risk for high cholesterol include:
In addition, having a close blood relative with high cholesterol can raise your risk for developing the condition as well.
The CDC recommends getting screened for high cholesterol every 4-6 years, more frequently if you’re at a high risk for the condition.
Screening for high cholesterol is done through a blood test called a lipid panel, which assesses your HDL, LDL, and total cholesterol counts.
Your treatment plan depends on your cholesterol levels. If it’s caught early, you may be able to manage it with lifestyle changes. These include cutting out foods high in saturated fats, exercising more, and dropping unhealthy habits such as alcohol and tobacco use.
However, prescription medications might be necessary if your high cholesterol is severe.
Your blood vessels are like pipes. They must be clear to work correctly. High cholesterol clogs the pipes, and your health suffers when blood can’t flow through them like it should. The more clogged the pipes, the greater your health risks.
High cholesterol increases your risk of coronary artery disease (CAD), high blood pressure, peripheral artery disease (PAD), type 2 diabetes, and stroke.
If you haven’t been screened for high cholesterol in quite some time, we highly recommend seeing our team for testing as soon as possible. To schedule your screening, call our office or use our online booking feature today.
