Cholesterol Specialist

What is cholesterol?

Cholesterol has almost become a bad word in the English language, but the fact is that some cholesterol is good, and necessary. Cholesterol is a waxy substance that’s found in your blood, namely in your fats, and is a critical fuel source for cell renewal, allowing your body to rebuild and repair itself.

The problem with cholesterol occurs when you have too much in your blood, allowing it to build up to the point where it hampers your circulation. In turn, this can lead to some serious cardiovascular issues, such as heart attack and stroke.

What is considered high cholesterol?

When the doctors at Integrative Primary Care measure the cholesterol levels in your blood, they’re actually measuring two things:

LDL, or low-density lipoproteins

Often referred to as the “bad” cholesterol, your LDLs transport cholesterol through your bloodstream, allowing it to build up along the walls of your arteries.

HDL, or high-density lipoprotein

Conversely, this type of cholesterol is known as the “good” cholesterol because it transports any excess cholesterol to your liver for processing.

The key to good cholesterol numbers is a balance between your LDLs and your HDLs. For most healthy adults, the ideal range for these two numbers should be under 130 for your LDL and 60 and higher for your HDLs. This means that your total cholesterol numbers should fall under 200. Anything between 200 and 240 is borderline high and going over 240 is considered potentially dangerous territory.

How can I bring my cholesterol numbers down?

If the doctors at Integrative Primary Care find that your cholesterol numbers are high, or approaching dangerous levels, there’s a lot they can do to help you lower the numbers. First, they may prescribe medications, such as statins, which prevent the production of cholesterol.

While medications can make a difference, there’s a lot you can do on your own to lower your cholesterol levels, such as:

• Limit your fat intake
• Eat more vegetables and fruits
• Lose weight
• Quit smoking
• Exercise regularly

Your doctor works with you on a multi-pronged effort to lower your cholesterol numbers into healthier ranges and they monitor your progress through regular testing.

If you’d like to get a better handle on your cholesterol numbers, call Integrative Primary Care or use the online scheduling tool to set up an appointment.