High Cholesterol

High Cholesterol and its effect on the body is a topic of frequent discussion. Our practice is dedicated to successful treatment of high cholesterol for the health, wellness and safety of our patients. High cholesterol is a silent condition, and many of our patients are rather surprised when they discover they have cholesterol levels that are higher than healthy, safe ranges.

Cholesterol itself is a waxy substance that occurs naturally in every part of the body. What many people fail to understand is that cholesterol itself is not dangerous; in fact, our bodies need it to function and work properly. What is dangerous, however, is when there is too much cholesterol in the blood.

Too much cholesterol in the blood will cause it to stick to the walls of your arteries, where at this point it is referred to as "plaque". This plaque, is what is responsible for narrowing the arteries and even blocking them, either partially or completely. When arteries are blocked, blood cannot efficiently travel through the body, resulting in heart attacks and strokes.

The levels of cholesterol in a patient's blood will tend to rise with age. Usually there are really no signs or symptoms to analyze and determine that the problem is high cholesterol. The good news, however, is that all it takes is a simple blood test at our on-site lab to discover high levels.

Cholesterol level management is something that our physicians are passionate about, and treatment of high cholesterol begins with education. You are more likely to have high cholesterol if members of your family have the condition, if you are overweight and if you eat excessive amounts of fatty, greasy foods. Becoming educated on the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of high cholesterol - people are able to lower their cholesterol levels and maintain those that are already within normal range by exercising more, eating healthier and paying attention to their bodies' signals. Some people also may need to remain on prescription medication prescribed by a physician to lower their cholesterol levels.

To learn more about high cholesterol and our diagnostic and treatment options, to schedule an appointment.