Hyperlipidemia or high cholesterol places you at a much higher risk for cardiac problems, including heart attack and coronary artery disease. The team at Heart One Associates offers prevention, diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment of hyperlipidemia in Peoria, Buckeye, and Phoenix, Arizona. If you have high cholesterol and want to lower your cardiac risks, call or schedule an appointment online today.
Hyperlipidemia is a condition where levels of cholesterol in the blood are outside of healthy limits. Cholesterol is a naturally produced, waxy substance in your blood that contributes to the production of hormones and vitamin D. Many foods also have cholesterol, including eggs, meat, fast food, and oils.
The body produces two types of cells to help manage cholesterol in the bloodstream. High-density lipids (HDL) help transfer excessive cholesterol out of the body, and low-density lipids (LDL) collect cholesterol in the bloodstream. Both are necessary for a healthy body.
With hyperlipidemia, your cholesterol levels are too high and contribute to plaque buildup and blockages in the blood vessels. This happens when you have an elevated amount of LDL and too few HDL cells.
Also called high cholesterol, hyperlipidemia places you at significantly higher risk for heart-related conditions. It is the leading cause of heart disease and the most significant risk factor in developing coronary artery disease (CAD).
Hyperlipidemia places you at a high-risk for conditions such as:
You may be more likely to have high cholesterol if you are obese, sedentary, a smoker, eat a high-fat diet, have diabetes, or consume alcohol excessively.
Typically, there are no symptoms of high cholesterol until you have a cardiac event or develop heart disease. This is the reason that regular cholesterol checks are an essential part of preventive cardiology care.
Regular cholesterol checks help monitor your HDL and LDL levels and the amount of cholesterol in your blood. If you have hyperlipidemia, your provider develops a personalized treatment plan to lower your cholesterol and associated heart health risks.
If you have high cholesterol, the Heart One Associates team recommends lifestyle and dietary changes, including:
If your cholesterol levels don't change with lifestyle and dietary support, your provider may recommend cholesterol-lowering medications. If your hyperlipidemia causes significant blockages, you may need a coronary angiogram, cardiac catheterization, percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), peripheral angiogram, or stenting.
To prevent, diagnose, and treat your hyperlipidemia, call or schedule an appointment online with Heart One Associates today.
