Although cholesterol always gets a bad rap, it is something your body needs. Healthy amounts of cholesterol help the cells in your body function properly. But too much of a good thing can increase your risk for serious health complications such as heart disease, which could lead to a stroke or a heart attack.
If you believe your cholesterol level is too high, call Germantown Primary HealthCare today to schedule a cholesterol screening.
The fats in your blood are partly composed of cholesterol. When there is too much of this waxy substance, it tends to clump together along the lining of the arteries that transport blood throughout the body. This causes problems with blood flow and can make it difficult for the heart to receive sufficient oxygen.
If a lot of cholesterol accumulates in an area, it can lead to an artery blockage, which can cut off the flow of blood to major organs, including the heart. This dangerous condition can result in a heart attack.
Some patients inherit the tendency to accumulate high cholesterol levels. Family history can raise your risk significantly. If one of your parents or a sibling developed heart disease before reaching age 55, odds are you will too.
The good thing is that most instances of high cholesterol stem from poor lifestyle habits, which can be changed. Therefore, you have some control over your health. You can lower cholesterol and lessen the likelihood of developing complications.
Common lifestyle choices that lead to high cholesterol include:
Cholesterol screening is easy. The test requires just a few drops of blood. For accurate results, do not eat or drink (except water) 9–12 hours prior to the test.
Different lipid components will be examined in your blood, including:
A healthy total should be 200 or lower. Anything higher than 240 is too high. Each component has a unique value and its own ranges. Your Germantown Primary HealthCare provider will discuss HDL, LDL, and triglycerides when your results are returned.
High cholesterol therapy in Germantown will likely include medication. Multiple drugs are available that can treat all three components or just one. All patients with high cholesterol should exercise and follow a low-fat diet. If you are overweight, it is important to try to achieve a healthy weight. Always talk to your doctor before starting a new diet or exercise program.
