High Cholesterol Specialist
High Cholesterol Specialist
High cholesterol is as common as it is treatable. If you’re one of the 95 million American adults living with this condition, get the treatment you need to protect your health by visiting Jiki Medical Associates, LLC. At their office in Rockville, Maryland, the medical team helps you reach healthy cholesterol levels to defend against stroke and heart attack. To have your cholesterol levels checked or to start treating your high cholesterol, call the office or schedule an appointment online.
High Cholesterol Q & A
What is cholesterol?
Cholesterol is a type of molecule that’s found in your blood. It’s waxy and similar to fat. Your body needs cholesterol to build healthy cells. But excess amounts of cholesterol can cause deposits that build up along the walls of your blood vessels. This narrows the pathway for blood to flow, making it harder for your heart to pump blood throughout your body.
What’s more, these deposits can break free from the blood vessel wall, creating a clot that can cause a heart attack or stroke.
Not all cholesterol forms into deposits, though. There are two different types of cholesterol.
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
You don’t want this type of cholesterol. LDL cholesterol is the kind that can build deposits along the walls of your blood vessels.
High-density lipoprotein (HDL)
Fortunately, your body has a way to prevent LDL deposits: HDL cholesterol. This type of cholesterol gathers LDL cholesterol as it moves through your blood, taking the LDL to your liver where your body can safely secrete it as bile.
What are the symptoms of high cholesterol?
There aren’t any. Unless you have your cholesterol levels checked regularly at Jiki Medical Associates, there’s no way to know if you have excess LDL cholesterol in your blood.
What are healthy cholesterol levels?
When you have your cholesterol checked at Jiki Medical Associates, the results show you the milligrams (mg) of cholesterol per deciliter (dL) of your blood. Generally, if your cholesterol levels are below 200 mg/dL, they’re considered healthy. If they’re above that, you should start high cholesterol treatment to protect your health.
How is high cholesterol treated?
Your Jiki Medical Associates provider works with you to put a treatment plan in place that best addresses your current cholesterol levels. Usually, this means lifestyle changes. Some of the most effective ways to reduce your cholesterol levels include:
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Maintaining a healthy weight
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Eating a healthy, balanced, low-salt diet
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Regularly exercising
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Managing stress
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Moderating alcohol consumption
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Quitting smoking
If lifestyle changes don’t bring your cholesterol levels down to a healthy range, your Jiki Medical Associates provider can also explore your medication options with you.
Schedule your appointment to have your cholesterol levels checked by calling the office or booking a consultation online.