What is Cholesterol? 

Cholesterol is a waxy substance made in the liver and other cells throughout your body. It is vital to keeping the body functioning properly, digesting fat, and producing necessary hormones, acids, and vitamins. But like anything else, too much of a good thing is not always great. High cholesterol is excess cholesterol in the body that can lead to clogging of the arteries with plaque. Clogged arteries can lead to blocked blood flow to the heart and a reduced oxygen supply. If vessels leading to the heart or brain are blocked, it can result in a heart attack or stroke. 

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Types of Cholesterol

The types of cholesterol we measure are:

• LDL – Low-density lipoprotein. Referred to as the “bad” cholesterol, it can lead to artery blockage.

• HDL – High-density lipoprotein. The “good” cholesterol. HDL removes LDL from the body and blood. 

• Triglycerides – While triglycerides are not technically cholesterol, they should still be monitored. They are different types of fat found in the blood. When too high, they can lead to a thickening of the arteries and put you at an increased risk of heart attack and stroke. 

Symptoms of High Cholesterol

There are no symptoms to alert you of high cholesterol alone. It can, however, lead to symptoms of cardiovascular or heart disease such as chest pain, tingling of extremities, numbness, lightheadedness, heart attack, and stroke. Because the first symptom of high cholesterol can be potentially life-threatening, early diagnosis and treatment are paramount. 

Causes and Diagnosis

High cholesterol is diagnosed through tests performed by your doctor. 

Risk factors for high cholesterol include:

• Poor diet choices
• Diabetes
• Obesity
• Smoking
• Alcohol consumption
• Lack of exercise

How Can We Treat High Cholesterol?

Dr. Emi’s approach to care is treating the root cause of the problem rather than simply treating it. While there are medications available to lower cholesterol, there are advantages to getting your levels to safe levels by changing your lifestyle choices and implementing things like healthy eating, exercise, and healthy weight loss. Dr. Emi will work with you closely to create a customized care plan to lower your cholesterol and help you maintain your highest possible level of health and wellness.