Cholesterol Specialist
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Shah Medical Center
Internal Medicine located in Elgin, IL
An estimated 94 million adults in the United States have high cholesterol. At Shah Medical Center, Heena Shyamani, MD, and the medical team offer in-office cholesterol screenings to identify high cholesterol levels that can lead to heart attack, stroke, and other health complications. You can also receive comprehensive care to better manage your cholesterol with lifestyle changes, dietary improvements, and cholesterol-lowering medications. To schedule a cholesterol screening, call the office in Elgin, Illinois, or book a consultation online today.
Cholesterol Q&A
What is cholesterol?
Cholesterol is a waxy, fatty substance that moves through your blood system.
Your liver naturally makes cholesterol to form membranes that protect your cells. These membranes control what moves in and out of your cells. You also get cholesterol from the foods you eat, specifically meats and other animal products.
Lipoproteins carry cholesterol through your blood. There are three types of lipoproteins in your body, including:
Low-density lipoproteins (LDL)
LDL is known as the bad cholesterol because it can build up in your blood vessels and interfere with the flow of blood throughout your body.
High-density lipoproteins (HDL)
HDL is known as the good cholesterol because it picks up excess bad cholesterol as it travels through your blood to prevent blockages.
Very low-density lipoproteins (VLDL)
VLDL carries triglycerides throughout the body. Triglycerides are fats that we get from the foods we eat. Your body stores these excess fats in cells.
Because your body produces cholesterol and you also get it from your diet, it's important that you monitor your cholesterol levels to prevent complications.
What are the complications of high cholesterol?
When you have high levels of bad cholesterol, your risk for heart disease, heart attack, stroke, and other serious health issues increases.
The buildup of cholesterol in your blood vessels not only causes blockages in your blood flow, but the fatty plaque build-up can harden (atherosclerosis) and cause permanent vessel damage.
What are the symptoms of high cholesterol?
Many people have high cholesterol and don’t know it. This is because high cholesterol doesn’t cause any symptoms until damage starts occurring in your blood vessels.
The only way to evaluate and monitor your cholesterol levels is through routine blood testing. The team at Shah Medical Center offers on-site cholesterol screenings that involve drawing a sample of your blood. The medical lab processes the sample to identify how much cholesterol you have in your blood.
How is high cholesterol treated?
Based on your test results, you may need to make lifestyle and dietary changes to lose weight and lower your bad cholesterol levels naturally. You should exercise at least 30 minutes every day and eat a low-fat, heart-healthy diet to manage your cholesterol levels.
The medical team at Shah Medical Center may also prescribe cholesterol-lowering medications that eliminate excess bad cholesterol before it can build up in your blood vessels. They continue to monitor your cholesterol levels through routine blood work during follow-up appointments.
To schedule a cholesterol screening, call Shah Medical Center today or book an appointment online.