High Cholesterol Treatment NYC

Cholesterol is a waxy substance found in your blood, produced by your liver and also present in certain foods like dairy products and meat. While your body needs cholesterol to build healthy cells, too much cholesterol can lead to fatty buildup in your blood vessels, increasing your risk of cardiovascular disease.

Fat deposits in your blood vessels restrict blood flow from your heart to your muscles, tissues, and organs, making your heart work harder and putting you at increased risk for blood clots, heart attack, and stroke. This condition is known as atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.

Treating cholesterol levels is very manageable and with the right partnership between doctor and patient, you should be able to significantly improve your quality of life and lower your chance of heart attack and stroke. Come to visit Dr. Beheshtian today, and make an appointment online or call us to schedule a visit.

There are two different types of cholesterol

HDL cholesterol (high-density lipoprotein) and LDL cholesterol (low-density lipoprotein). HDL cholesterol is considered the “good” cholesterol because it helps remove excess cholesterol from your blood, while LDL cholesterol, or “bad” cholesterol, is the type that builds up on the walls of your blood vessels, contributing to the development of coronary artery disease.

High cholesterol, also known as hypercholesterolemia, doesn’t have any noticeable symptoms, making regular check-ups and blood tests crucial for diagnosis. Your healthcare provider will assess your cholesterol levels, including total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and triglycerides, usually measured in mg/dL. This comprehensive assessment is often referred to as a lipid profile.

In some cases, cholesterol lowering drugs may be prescribed to help manage high cholesterol levels.

Learning your risk factors for high cholesterol can help you understand what you need to do to maintain a healthy lifestyle and reduce your risk of developing heart disease. Some of the most common risk factors include a diet high in saturated fats and trans fats, lack of physical activity, obesity, high blood pressure, and a family history of high cholesterol or heart disease.

Know your cholesterol levels And what to do about them

When it comes to cholesterol, there are two essential terms to understand: hyperlipidemia and hypercholesterolemia. Hyperlipidemia refers to having too many lipids (or fats) in your blood, such as cholesterol and triglycerides. One type of hyperlipidemia, called hypercholesterolemia, specifically means there’s too much LDL cholesterol (low-density lipoprotein or “bad” cholesterol) in your blood. High LDL cholesterol levels can lead to the buildup of fatty deposits in your arteries, increasing your risk of blockages, atherosclerosis, and cardiovascular disease.

Another way your cholesterol numbers can be out of balance is when your levels of HDL cholesterol (high-density lipoprotein or “good” cholesterol) are too low. HDL cholesterol helps remove excess cholesterol from your arteries, so having lower HDL cholesterol levels can increase your risk of developing atherosclerotic plaque and blockages.

If you’re diagnosed with hyperlipidemia, your doctor will consider your overall health and known risk factors, such as smoking, high blood pressure, obesity, and family history of heart disease, to guide your treatment plan. These factors can combine with high LDL cholesterol or low HDL cholesterol levels to affect your cardiovascular health. Your doctor may use the National Institutes of Health’s Estimate of 10-Year Risk for Coronary Heart Disease Framingham Point Score to assess your risk of experiencing a coronary event in the next 10 years.

Managing Cholesterol

The good news is that high cholesterol can be lowered, reducing your risk of heart disease and stroke. If you’re an adult 20 or older, it’s crucial to have your cholesterol levels tested regularly and work with your doctor to adjust your cholesterol levels as necessary.

Often, making lifestyle changes can go a long way toward bringing your cholesterol numbers into a healthy range. However, if lifestyle changes alone don’t improve your cholesterol levels, your doctor may prescribe cholesterol-lowering medications, such as statins, bile acid sequestrants, or cholesterol absorption inhibitors.

Some of the lifestyle changes your doctor may recommend to help lower your cholesterol include:

Eating a heart-healthy diet

Focus on consuming a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats like omega-3 fatty acids. Reduce your intake of saturated fat and trans fats, which can raise LDL cholesterol levels. Limit red meat and dairy products made with whole milk, and choose healthier cooking oils and dairy alternatives.

Becoming more physically active

Regular physical activity can help raise your HDL cholesterol levels while lowering LDL cholesterol and triglycerides. Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity exercise per week.

Quitting smoking

Smoking lowers your HDL cholesterol levels and increases your risk of heart disease. Quitting smoking can help improve your cholesterol numbers and overall cardiovascular health.

Losing weight

Being overweight or obese can contribute to high LDL cholesterol and low HDL cholesterol levels. Losing excess weight through a combination of a healthy diet and increased physical activity can help improve your cholesterol numbers and reduce your risk of heart disease.

By understanding your cholesterol numbers and working closely with your healthcare provider to develop a personalized treatment plan, you can effectively manage your cholesterol levels and reduce your risk of developing cardiovascular disease.

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