High Cholesterol Management

High cholesterol is among the major controllable risk factors for various forms of heart disease, but it’s also easy to treat with proper medical care. Family physician Tanya Pandya, DO and the professional team at Pandya Medical Center in Alpharetta, Braselton, Cumming, Dawsonville, Lawrenceville and Johns Creek, Georgia, help patients in Fulton, Forsyth, and Gwinnett counties overcome high cholesterol. If you need help managing high cholesterol, call Pandya Medical Center or book an appointment online today.

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high cholesterol management

High Cholesterol FAQs

What is cholesterol?

Cholesterol is a waxy substance your body needs to build new cells. Your liver makes all the cholesterol you need, but you also get more from foods. Specifically, certain oils, meat, poultry, and full-fat dairy products contain cholesterol.

Eating too much cholesterol and saturated fats can cause your cholesterol levels to increase to an unhealthy level. As your cholesterol levels rise, so does your risk of health problems.

High cholesterol doesn’t cause any symptoms. That’s why it’s important to get your cholesterol tested during routine checkups at Pandya Medical Center.

What are good and bad cholesterol?

You may have heard of “good” and “bad” cholesterol. These terms refer to different types of proteins that cholesterol attaches to as it travels through your blood. The combination of cholesterol and proteins is called a lipoprotein.

Low-density lipoprotein

Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is also known as “bad” cholesterol. Over time, LDL cholesterol can build up on the walls of your arteries, causing them to narrow and harden. This decreases the blood flow to your heart and brain, potentially causing life-threatening problems.

High-density lipoprotein

High-density lipoprotein (HDL) is the “good” kind of cholesterol. HDLs remove excess cholesterol from your blood and take it back to your liver.

What are some complications of high cholesterol?

High cholesterol can leave thick, hard deposits on the walls of your arteries, narrowing them and making them less flexible. This dangerous condition is called atherosclerosis. High cholesterol and atherosclerosis can lead to other serious complications without treatment, as well, such as a heart attack or stroke.

How do you treat high cholesterol?

If your blood test reveals cholesterol levels that are too high, the caring team of medical professionals at Pandya Medical Center works with you to create a personalized treatment plan to manage your cholesterol.

The first line of treatment typically involves lifestyle changes, such as exercising and eating a diet rich in healthy foods. The clinical nutritionist at Pandya Medical Center can help you develop a satisfying diet to lower your cholesterol.

If your cholesterol levels remain high despite lifestyle changes, the team at Pandya Medical Center may prescribe medications.

To learn more about how your cholesterol levels affect your health, call or click online to schedule an appointment at Pandya Medical Center today.