Cholesterol

Up to 40% of American adults have high cholesterol, a condition that increases the risk of heart attack, stroke, and other cardiovascular problems. At NextHealth Care in Debary, Florida, experienced family medicine doctors Irelis Rodriguez Castro, MD; Alireza Ebneshahidi, MD; and their team specialize in diagnosing and treating high cholesterol. After a physical exam and blood work, they make personalized treatment recommendations to lower your cholesterol levels. Call NextHealth Care today to schedule an appointment, or book your visit online.

What is cholesterol and what does it do?

Cholesterol is a type of fat (lipid). Your body needs a certain amount of cholesterol to function, but if there’s too much, it can build up in your arteries and form fatty deposits. As you age, these deposits get bigger, increasing your risk of a heart attack or stroke.

Cholesterol plays an important role in various bodily functions. It helps in the production of cell membranes, hormones, and vitamin D.

Is all cholesterol bad?

No. There are two types of cholesterol –– good and bad:

Good cholesterol (high-density lipoprotein, HDL)

Good cholesterol (HDL) carries excess bad cholesterol to your liver, where it’s processed with other waste. 

Bad cholesterol (low-density lipoprotein, LDL)

Bad cholesterol (LDL) causes plaque to collect in, and ultimately block, your arteries. Abnormally high levels of LDL cholesterol increase your risk of heart disease.

Does high cholesterol present symptoms?

No. High cholesterol doesn’t present obvious symptoms. The only way to know if you’re at risk is to undergo blood work every few years. 

NextHealth Care recommends that children receive cholesterol testing every five years, starting at age nine. Men should undergo cholesterol testing every five years until the age of 45 and then every one or two years after that. Women should undergo cholesterol testing every five years until the age of 55 and then every one to two years after that. 

How is high cholesterol diagnosed?

The NextHealth Care team diagnoses high cholesterol with a special blood test called a lipid panel. A lipid panel analyzes the amount of specific fats in your blood, including your total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and triglycerides.

A cholesterol reading shows how many milligrams (mg) of cholesterol are in a deciliter (dL) of blood. A normal cholesterol reading is below 200 mg/dL. A reading of 240 mg/dL or higher is considered high cholesterol.

How is high cholesterol treated?

Treatment of high cholesterol depends on your age, medical history, and general health. Healthy lifestyle changes, like regular exercise and a healthy diet, often are enough to keep high cholesterol in check. But if your numbers stay high, the NextHealth Care team might suggest:

• Statins
• Cholesterol absorption inhibitors
• Bempedoic acid
• Bile-acid-binding resins
• PSK9 inhibitors

The goal is to prevent lipids from building up in your arteries to reduce the risk of a heart attack or stroke.

Call NextHealth Care today to schedule cholesterol testing, or book your appointment online.