High Cholesterol

Cholesterol is a type of lipid that your body produces and needs for the formation of healthy cells. It’s found in your bloodstream, and too much of it can lead to an increased risk of heart disease. High cholesterol means that the level of fatty deposits in your arteries has built up over time, making it difficult for enough blood to flow through. If those plaques rupture suddenly, it can greatly reduce your circulation and result in a clot that causes a heart attack or stroke.

Although genetic factors may contribute to high cholesterol levels, lifestyle choices often play an even greater role. Eating a healthy diet low in saturated fat helps you maintain a healthy weight, while regular physical activity reduces bad cholesterol buildup. In addition, since non-smokers tend to have better cardiovascular health it is important to quit smoking. Making wise lifestyle changes not only helps lower cholesterol but also provides additional benefits such as improved energy levels and reduced stress levels.

Good Cholesterol and Bad Cholesterol

When it comes to cholesterol, there are two main types of cholesterol you’ve probably heard about. High-density lipoprotein (HDL) is known as “good cholesterol.” HDL cholesterol is important because they carry cholesterol to your liver where it can be broken down and used for necessary bodily functions such as the creation of hormones or bile acids. Since HDL is so beneficial to the body, having a higher amount of this type of cholesterol can reduce your overall risk of heart disease.

On the other hand, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is considered “bad cholesterol” because it contains more fat than HDL does and increases the risk of heart disease. Although LDL cholesterol transports cholesterol throughout the body, too much of this type of cholesterol can cause plaque buildup in your blood vessels which makes blood vessels less flexible as well as narrowing the space blood has available to flow. This restriction leads to an increased chance of heart attack or stroke. It’s important that you keep your levels checked regularly so they don’t become uncomfortably high and put you at risk for more serious health complications.

To determine how much good cholesterol and how much bad cholesterol you have, the doctors at Founders Family Medicine will do a blood test, called a lipid profile or lipid panel. Whether your HDL and LDL levels are at an appropriate level depends on your age, sex and family history of heart disease among other factors. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute recommends that younger adults should be screened every 5 years. Men ages 45 to 65 and women ages 55 to 65 should be screened every 1 to 2 years and if you are over 65 you should be screened annually. Blood Cholesterol – Diagnosis | NHLBI, NIH

If at any point your test results aren’t within the appropriate ranges, or if you have additional risk factors such as a family history of high cholesterol or you are living with certain diseases, the doctor might suggest more frequent testing.

Founders Family Medicine provides accurate testing, diagnosis and treatment for high cholesterol. We offer compassionate healthcare for patients of all ages.

To schedule your visit, call 303‑688‑8666.

Common Symptoms of High Cholestero

The only way to confirm one’s cholesterol level is with a simple blood test. However, patients with high cholesterol may experience some of the common signs associated with the condition.

Xanthomas, or soft, yellow growths on the skin
Impotence in men
Symptoms of coronary artery disease, including fatigue, shortness of breath, chest pain, nausea and pain in the jaw, back or neck

The worst symptoms of high cholesterol are, of course, when you have a stroke or heart attack. Don’t find yourself in this situation. Contact Founders Family Medicine and get your cholesterol levels checked today. This is especially important for patients with risk factors for high cholesterol.

What Are the Risk Factors for High Cholesterol?

Cholesterol is a normal and healthy part of our bodies. Yet, when we have unhealthy cholesterol levels, we suffer negative effects.

Certain behaviors and lifestyle factors lead to an increased risk factor for high cholesterol:

Smoking:

Smoking is a serious risk factor for high cholesterol. Smoking can lower good cholesterol, increase plaque in arteries, and damage the walls of arteries which encourages further buildup of plaque in those area. In addition, studies have linked the carbon monoxide (CO) in cigarette smoke to increased cholesterol levels. Can smoking cause high cholesterol? What to know (medicalnewstoday.com)

Stress:

According to studies, psychological stress leads to higher levels of triglycerides and bad cholesterol, and a reduction in levels of good cholesterol. Stress and cholesterol: What impact does stress have? (medicalnewstoday.com)

Drinking Alcohol:

A multitude of studies indicate that heavy drinking has a negative effect on your good cholesterol (HDLs) and increases your bad cholesterol (LDLs). The Effect of Alcohol on Cardiovascular Risk Factors: Is There New Information? – PMC (nih.gov)

Being sedentary:

This is one of those situations where more is better – the more you move the better shape you will be in and the more your cholesterol will improve. So, if you have a job where you sit a lot and/or you tend to be more of a couch potato at home, you are not helping your body to produce good cholesterol. Fortunately, as little as 22 minutes a day of moderate exercise can begin to improve your HDLs and lower your LDLs.

Certain diseases can also increase your risk:

Diabetes:

Diabetes is a medical condition that has been linked to higher rates of coronary artery disease and peripheral artery disease. This is because people with diabetes end up with higher levels of triglycerides and LDLs, and lower levels of HDLs in the blood. Strategies used to reduce triglyceride level as well as interventions designed to increase the amount of beneficial HDL cholesterol can provide additional protection against heart disease and stroke.

Chronic Kidney Disease:

Having chronic kidney disease (CKD) can cause a number of serious health problems, including an increased risk of coronary artery disease. A person with CKD will develop plaque in their arteries at a faster rate than those with healthy kidneys. Aside from putting one at greater risk for coronary artery diseases, CKD also causes high levels of triglycerides and very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) cholesterol in the body. Triglycerides are a type of fat, and VLDL cholesterol are particles that transport triglycerides throughout our bodies. It is important to keep them at healthy levels so the heart can function properly. People with CKD should focus on managing their cholesterol levels in order to prevent additional health complications associated with this illness.

Thyroid Disease:

Thyroid disease can have an impact on cholesterol levels in the body. This is because thyroid hormone plays a role in how our bodies process lipids. The start point determine how much effect the condition may have, with hyperthyroidism causing too much thyroid hormone to be produced. Treatment for this type of thyroid disorder includes medication which can have the side-effect of increasing total, LDL and HDL cholesterol particles. To avoid any potential problems arising from changes in cholesterols levels, it is important to speak with your healthcare provider about managing them during treatment for hyperthyroidism.

Lupus:

Lupus is an autoimmune disorder that affects the entire body. One of the potential effects of Lupus is to cause changes in cholesterol levels. Higher levels of LDL and triglycerides are often a symptom of lupus. Surprisingly, they often have lower HDL levels. For those patients with active lupus the risk is higher.This increased risk is likely due to the effect of systemic inflammation on cholesterol levels in lupus patients.

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS):

People with PCOS face higher risks of high blood pressure, heart disease, and diabetes. In addition, they often have higher LDL levels and lower HDL levels then can be attributed to diet alone.

If you are concerned about whether your lifestyle choices or medical conditions may be affecting your cholesterol, contact Founders Family Medicine to get your levels checked.

Diagnosing High Cholesterol

A simple lipid panel blood test identifies cholesterol levels. It’s recommended for everyone age 20 and over to regularly check cholesterol levels at a minimum of once every five years.

Cholesterol divides into two main categories, LDL and HDL. For LDL, a healthy level falls below 100 mg/dL. An HDL level of 60 mg/dL is ideal to protect patients from heart disease. For HDL, a higher number is better. If you are ever confused, the easiest way to remember is to think of the L in LDL as “low” and the H in HDL as “high”.

These recommendations are general guidelines. It’s best to work with your doctor to identify your ideal cholesterol levels based on your risk factors and specific health.

Treating High Cholesterol

High cholesterol treatment primarily requires lifestyle changes. Diet and exercise greatly impact cholesterol levels. The good news is most patients have the power to change their cholesterol level.

Eating a healthy, low-fat diet including primarily vegetables and fruits, whole grains, proteins low in saturated fat and foods lower in sugar can reduce cholesterol levels. Changing your unhealthy diet helps reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease, heart attack, and stroke.

Your doctor may also prescribe a lipid medication to lower your cholesterol levels. There are a few different lipid medications available. Your doctor will work with you to find the best medication option for your specific needs. To get more specific recommendations, reach out to Founders Family Medicine and one of our physicians will help you find the best solution for your individual concerns.

What Are the Complications of High Cholesterol?

Don’t ignore high cholesterol. The complications from high cholesterol can permanently damage your health if not addressed

Heart attack: A heart attack is a very real risk if you have high cholesterol. The plaque buildup in your arteries means your heart has to work harder because the blood flow is being restricted. If that happens in a coronary artery your heart gets too little blood and oxygen and gets weak. Eventually that plaque form a clot and you can have a heart attack.
Stroke: One of the greatest dangers of high cholesterol is the risk of a stroke. The plaque blocking your arteries can eventually break off into a blood clot which then travels through the blood stream to the brain causing a stroke.
Carotid Artery Disease: Carotid artery disease is a condition that affects the blood vessels leading to the brain. It occurs when plaque builds up and narrows the carotid arteries, decreasing the amount of oxygen-rich blood being supplied to the large front portion of the brain. This can result in a reduced supply of oxygen and nutrients, as well as increased risk for a transient ischemic attack (TIA) or stroke.
Coronary Artery Disease: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a serious condition caused by atherosclerosis, which is the hardening and narrowing of the arteries that carry blood to the heart. It is also known as coronary heart disease (CHD) or ischemic heart disease, and it affects millions of Americans every year. When these arteries get clogged with fat, cholesterol, calcium, and other substances, it reduces the supply of oxygen and nutrients that reach the heart muscle. Symptoms may include chest pain or tightness (angina), shortness of breath, fatigue, and irregular heartbeat.
High Blood Pressure: High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a major contributing factor to heart attacks and strokes. It can cause serious damage to the circulatory system if left untreated. Hypertension is often linked with high cholesterol, which results from cholesterol plaque and calcium deposits that harden and narrow arteries. When these arteries are narrowed, the heart must work harder to supply blood throughout the body, causing blood pressure to rise. This increase in pressure can lead to further complications down the line, such as hardening of the arteries and coronary heart disease. “Hypertension is a prevalent condition, affects approximately 45% of the adult US population, and is the most commonly diagnosed condition at outpatient office visits.”Recommendation: Hypertension in Adults: Screening | United States Preventive Services Taskforce (uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org)

Prevention of High Cholesterol

We help patients with the risk factors for high cholesterol identify and implement preventative strategies. Don’t wait until you receive a high cholesterol diagnosis to make changes. Start today on the path to better heart health.

Eat a healthy, balanced diet
Increase physical activity
Quit smoking
Lose weight and maintain a healthy weight
Manage other health conditions, like high blood pressure

Preventative care improves health and fights against debilitating health conditions, like high cholesterol, hypertension and type 2 diabetes.

Castle Rock Medical Care for High Cholesterol

Founders Family Medicine and Urgent Care offer treatment for high cholesterol at our Castle Rock clinic. We offer both in-clinic and telehealth appointments for your convenience and comfort.

From urgent care to the ongoing management of your health, our health care team provides effective and patient-centered treatment solutions.