High Cholesterol

What is high cholesterol?

High cholesterol, also known as hyperlipidemia, means you have too much cholesterol in your blood. Cholesterol is a type of fat your body uses to make cell membranes, vitamin D, and certain hormones.

Cholesterol must attach itself to a protein to travel through your blood, creating a lipoprotein. Your total cholesterol number includes different types of cholesterol.

High-density lipoprotein (HDL)

Known as good cholesterol, HDL carries cholesterol from your body to your liver for processing and removal. 

Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) 

Known as the bad cholesterol, LDL transports cholesterol throughout your body. The LDL in your blood may combine with other substances and stick to the walls of your blood vessels, narrowing the passageway.

The build-up of cholesterol along your blood vessel walls leads to conditions such as carotid artery disease, coronary artery disease, and peripheral artery disease. These conditions may increase your risk of having a heart attack or stroke. 

What can I expect during a high cholesterol evaluation?

You can expect a patient-centered exam when you come in to see the heart experts at Affiliated Cardiologists of Arizona for help with your high cholesterol.

Your cardiologist reviews your medical and family history, as well as lifestyle habits that may play a role in your high cholesterol numbers. They perform a physical exam and run a lipid profile test to check your cholesterol levels.

Affiliated Cardiologists of Arizona is a full-service cardiology practice and offers many in-office treatments to assess heart health and heart disease risk. Your provider may recommend additional testing to confirm or rule out cardiovascular conditions related to your high cholesterol.

Testing may include a stress test, echocardiogram, carotid ultrasound, or vascular ultrasound. 

How is high cholesterol treated?

When it comes to high cholesterol, the team at Affiliated Cardiologists of Arizona takes a conservative approach. They may recommend lifestyle changes to help you lower your cholesterol numbers and improve your overall health, such as:

• Heart-healthy diet
• Regular exercise
• Smoking cessation
• Weight loss

If lifestyle changes fail to improve your cholesterol, they may add cholesterol-lowering medication to your regimen. 

With the right support, you can improve your high cholesterol. Call Affiliated Cardiologists of Arizona or book an appointment online today.