What is high cholesterol?
If you have high cholesterol, a waxy substance found in your blood, you have an increased risk of heart disease, heart attack, and stroke. High cholesterol can cause fatty deposits in blood vessels, which reduces blood flow. Routine screening for high cholesterol is the best way to determine if you have this chronic disease risk factor.
Are there any symptoms with high cholesterol?
There aren't generally any symptoms associated with having high cholesterol. That’s why routine high cholesterol screening is so important if you’re at risk of developing it. Your New York Speciality Clinics provider can use a simple blood test to determine if you have high cholesterol.
What are the risk factors for high cholesterol?
Some people have a higher risk of developing high cholesterol. Your risk increases with:
- Family history of high cholesterol
- Older age
- Obesity
- Poor dietary habits
- Physical inactivity
- Having diabetes
- Smoking
Dangerous complications associated with high cholesterol can include heart attack, stroke, and coronary artery disease (CAD). Early detection and treatment are crucial to maintaining optimal health and wellness.
How can I lower my risk of high cholesterol?
Healthy lifestyle habits can reduce your risk of developing high cholesterol. Examples include eating lots of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, and other fiber-rich foods. Limit animal fats, alcohol, sodium, and stress. Don’t smoke and maintain a healthy weight.
How does my provider diagnose high cholesterol?
To diagnose high cholesterol, your New York Specialty Clinics provider takes a sample of blood from your arm and sends it to a lab for analysis. They might evaluate your total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol), HDL cholesterol (good cholesterol), and triglycerides to better understand your chronic disease risk factors.
What are my high cholesterol treatment options?
Adopting healthy lifestyle habits and taking cholesterol-lowering medications are two common treatments for high cholesterol.
Your New York Specialty Clinics specialist might recommend weight loss, healthy eating, dietary supplements, regular exercise, not drinking alcohol, and increasing your fiber intake to get high cholesterol under control naturally.
Don’t let high cholesterol go undetected and lead to serious medical problems. Schedule a cholesterol screening at New York Speciality Clinics by phone or book online today.
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