High Cholesterol Specialist

What is cholesterol?

Cholesterol is a fatty material that your body uses to produce hormones, create new cells, and help with bile production in your liver. You make most of the cholesterol you need, but many people also eat foods that are high in cholesterol, which means an excess builds up in your bloodstream.

There are several types of cholesterol. High-density lipoprotein (HDL) is known as good cholesterol because it harvests excess cholesterol from your blood and sends it to your liver for processing.

Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is labeled as bad cholesterol because it can form sticky plaque, a substance that attaches to the inside of your arteries. As the plaque builds up and hardens, it restricts blood flow to your vital organs and can lead to serious health problems.

One of the challenges of having high cholesterol is that it doesn't cause any symptoms, so you could have it and be unaware until you suffer a stroke or heart attack.

Why would I have high cholesterol?

You might be more at risk of developing high cholesterol if you have a family history of atherosclerosis and related conditions. However, the main contributors to high cholesterol are controllable risks such as:

• Being overweight or obese
• Eating a diet high in animal fats
• Not doing enough exercise
• Smoking

You can reduce your likelihood of having high cholesterol by taking steps to lessen risk factors like these.

How is high cholesterol identified?

Arizona Heart Arrhythmia Associates offers on-site testing to see whether you have high cholesterol before it causes any major health issues.

Their advanced lipid tests provide information about the particle sizes and qualities of the cholesterol in your blood, as well as measuring your HDL and LDL levels. This sophisticated analysis provides a more accurate prediction of your risk of developing cardiovascular disease.

If you have any risk factors for high cholesterol, you should start regular testing at Arizona Heart Arrhythmia Associates during childhood. If you don't have any risk factors, it's still a good idea to have a cholesterol test every five years, starting at age 20 and more frequently as you enter middle age.

These tests also form a part of routine heart health screenings and preventive cardiology consultations.

How is high cholesterol treated?

Your provider at Arizona Heart Arrhythmia Associates can help you change your diet and lifestyle to lower your cholesterol levels.

If your cholesterol is dangerously high, you might also need to take cholesterol-lowering medications like statins.

To find out whether you have high cholesterol, call Arizona Heart Arrhythmia Associates today or book an appointment online.