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High Cholesterol

Prima Medicine -  - Internal Medicine

Prima Medicine

Internal Medicine & Family Medicine located in Fairfax, VA, South Riding, VA & Merrifield, VA

For anyone interested in living a long and healthy life, it is important to pay close attention to your cholesterol level, especially as you age. The team of experienced doctors and nurse practitioners at Prima Medicine in Fairfax & South Riding, Virginia, are experts at helping to manage and treat high cholesterol so that their patients can maintain their heart health for years to come. Call or go online today to schedule your appointment to learn more about high cholesterol treatment in Fairfax and South Riding.

High Cholesterol Q & A

What is high cholesterol?

Cholesterol is a type of fat that is important to various vital functions of your body, such as insulating nerves, producing hormones, and building new cells. Your body produces cholesterol naturally.

However, if you consume additional cholesterol in your diet, you risk having too much cholesterol in your system. If you have high cholesterol for a long enough time, you put yourself at risk of developing health problems.

What are the risks of high cholesterol?

The main risk of high cholesterol is that it often leads to heart disease, a very serious condition. When you have too much cholesterol, it can build up on the insides of your arteries, causing atherosclerosis, a narrowing of your blood vessels that restricts blood flow in your body. This can cause life-threatening conditions like heart attack and stroke.

How can I tell if I have high cholesterol?

Unfortunately, high cholesterol does not have any symptoms. It is very possible to have high cholesterol and experience no downside – for a time. Eventually, though, it catches up with you, causing heart disease.

This is why it’s very important to have your cholesterol checked regularly. The team at Prima Medicine are very conscientious about regularly checking their patient's cholesterol and managing their levels if it starts to get too high.

How is high cholesterol treated?

Fortunately, there are many ways to prevent and treat high cholesterol. Often, maintaining a healthy lifestyle can avoid cholesterol from rising in the first place. This includes:

  • Eating a healthy diet that is low in fat and cholesterol
  • Exercising regularly
  • Losing weight if you are overweight

In addition, certain factors like age, gender, heredity, medical conditions, and medications can affect cholesterol levels. If your cholesterol levels are elevated, you might need to take cholesterol-lowering medications. These include:

  • Cholesterol absorption inhibitors
  • Fibric acid derivatives
  • Statins
  • Niacin
  • Bile-acid resins

It is very important to check your cholesterol regularly. The team at Prima Medicine are experts at helping their patients maintain healthy cholesterol levels, protecting their hearts and helping them live longer and healthier lives.

Call or go online today to schedule your consultation with the team of doctors and nurse practitioners at Prima Medicine.