Our doctors are committed to providing you with the most accurate testing and treatment services available to help you live a long, healthy life. You can rely on our medical team to provide you with a thorough consultation, analysis of your test results, and answer any questions you may have about how to treat high cholesterol.
What Is Cholesterol?
Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that’s found in all cells of the body. It helps maintain cell structure and supports the production of hormones like testosterone and estrogen. However, having too much cholesterol can potentially lead to health issues like heart disease and stroke.
Why Do I Need To Have My Cholesterol Checked?
High cholesterol levels can increase your risk for heart disease, stroke, and other conditions. According to the American Heart Association, adults over 20 should have their cholesterol checked at least once every 5 years. You may need to have your cholesterol checked more often if you have other risk factors for heart disease and stroke, or if your family has a history of early heart disease or stroke before age 65. Please contact one of our medical providers to discuss more specifically your unique past medical, family, social history in regard to cholesterol screening.
Our basic cholesterol panel is broken down into HDL (good cholesterol), LDL (bad cholesterol), Total Cholesterol and Triglyceride. We don’t simply look at the absolute number but we also look at the different ratios and your specific medical history, family history, diet and exercise level to formulate a treatment plan.
What Are Some of the Things That Raise My Cholesterol Level?
- Diet: Eating too much saturated fat, trans fat, and sugar can raise your levels of bad cholesterol (LDL) and lower your good cholesterol levels (HDL).
- Sedentary lifestyle: If you don’t exercise regularly, your cholesterol levels may be higher than normal.
- Being overweight: If you are overweight, it can increase your risk for high cholesterol.
- Certain medications: Medications such as steroids and birth control pills, can also affect your cholesterol levels.
Are There Any Risks Associated With Testing for High Cholesterol?
Testing for high cholesterol requires you to be fasting for at least 8 hours but otherwise there are no risks associated with the test itself. Our providers can order the test and help you interpret the results.
Understand Your Cholesterol
If you don’t understand your cholesterol levels, you’re not alone. In fact, many people are confused about what their cholesterol numbers mean and how to improve them. The team at Chau Medical Group can help you sort out the facts from the fiction and develop a plan with you to manage your cholesterol
Contact us today to book an appointment for more information about cholesterol Analysis and treatment.