Dangers of High Cholesterol

Cholesterol is a lipid that’s produced by your liver that’s vital for the production of vitamin D, certain hormones, and cell membranes. It’s carried through your bloodstream by different lipoproteins: low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and high-density lipoproteins (HDL). 

HDL cholesterol is the “good” kind of cholesterol – meaning it transports all the “bad,” or LDL, cholesterol to your liver for removal. If you have too much LDL cholesterol in your blood, you may be diagnosed with high cholesterol. 

High cholesterol is a widespread issue with an estimated 94 million adults in the United States living with it. This condition usually doesn’t present with any symptoms, and you often don’t know you have it.

Having high cholesterol can present many health risks and complications, so our team at Clover Internal Medicine Associates wants you to know what causes it and how to reverse it to improve your overall health and well-being.

Causes of high cholesterol

There are many factors that can contribute to your risk of developing high cholesterol, including:

• Smoking and tobacco use
• Being under a lot of stress
• Having a diet high in cholesterol, saturated fats, and trans fats
• Being obese
• Having diabetes
• Living an inactive lifestyle

Genetics also play a big role in having high cholesterol. If you have family members who have high cholesterol, it’s going to increase your risk of having it.

How to treat high cholesterol

When it comes to treating high cholesterol, there are a few different methods available. Our team can help customize a plan that’s best for you and your health needs. Some options include:

• Prescription medications
• Dietary plans
• Exercise plans
• Referrals to dieticians

Our team can also help you make some lifestyle changes like lessening your intake of alcohol and nicotine and tobacco products to lower your cholesterol levels. 

Why high cholesterol is so dangerous

High cholesterol has been shown to lead to life-threatening conditions like high blood pressure, stroke, heart attack, angina, peripheral vascular disease, and kidney disease. 

Having high cholesterol can also raise your risk of developing gallstones, memory problems or dementia, reduced blood flow, and other heart diseases.

Next steps

To learn more about how to have a healthy cholesterol level or to have your cholesterol levels checked, contact our team at Clover Internal Medicine Associates located in Fort Worth, Texas. Simply give us a call at 682-708-0982 or use our online scheduler to request an appointment with us today.