High Cholesterol

While common, high cholesterol often goes untreated because it usually causes no symptoms. At LexaMD Urgent and Primary Care in the Park Slope neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York, the skilled urgent care team screens and treats high cholesterol to reduce your chance of a heart attack, stroke, and heart disease. Call the LexaMD Urgent and Primary Care office to get screened for high cholesterol or use the online booking feature today.

What is high cholesterol?

High cholesterol is a common condition in which cholesterol builds up in your bloodstream because of genetics or unhealthy lifestyle habits. When your blood cholesterol is higher than normal, plaque can build up in blood vessel walls and cause the vessels to narrow or get clogged. 

Undergoing routine blood cholesterol screenings is important, as high cholesterol doesn’t cause any symptoms. When left untreated, it can lead to life-altering complications. 

What are the risk factors for high cholesterol?

While anyone can develop high cholesterol, the most common causes and risk factors include:

• Diet high in animal fats
• Low-fiber diets
• Lack of exercise
• Carrying excess body weight
• Older age
• Family history of high cholesterol
• Smoking
• Drinking too much alcohol

The best way to avoid high cholesterol is to adopt healthy habits. Eat nutritious foods rich in fiber and low in animal fats, get regular exercise, avoid smoking, and limit or avoid alcohol. 

If you’re carrying excess weight, the LexaMD Urgent and Primary Care team can help you move toward an ideal body weight.

How is high cholesterol diagnosed?

To diagnose high cholesterol, your LexaMD Urgent and Primary Care provider uses a simple blood test. They also evaluate your blood pressure and complete a physical exam. You might need an electrocardiogram (EKG) or another heart-function test.

Your provider reviews the results with you and lets you know if the cholesterol levels in your blood are higher than normal. If so, they review treatment options with you to reduce your levels and the risk of a heart attack, stroke, and heart disease.

How is high cholesterol treated?

Treatments for high cholesterol include making healthy lifestyle changes, taking medications or dietary supplements, or combining these cholesterol-lowering treatments. Increase your intake of fruits, vegetables, and other high-fiber foods. Limit highly processed meats and other high-fat foods from animal sources.

Stay active on a daily basis and take all medicines exactly as directed by the LexaMD Urgent and Primary Care team. Follow up with them routinely to have your cholesterol levels checked and ensure they remain within a normal range.

To schedule a cholesterol screening at LexaMD Urgent and Primary Care, call the office or book an appointment online today.