High cholesterol affects 93 million adults ages 20 and older in the United States. If you’re at risk of high cholesterol, check in with family practice physicians William Farr, MD, Alycia Campos, MD, and their team at Farr Medical Group, Inc. in Bakersfield, California, for a cholesterol screening. They can diagnose and treat high cholesterol to reduce your risk of a heart attack, stroke, and other serious medical problems. Schedule an appointment with Farr Medical Group, Inc. by phone or online today.
High cholesterol is a chronic disease risk factor. It occurs when cholesterol, a waxy substance found in your blood, builds up in blood vessel walls and makes them narrower. Over time, fatty deposits in blood vessels can break off and form a clot. This increases your risk of a stroke or heart attack. Keeping cholesterol levels in check greatly reduces your risk of medical problems.
High cholesterol normally doesn’t produce any symptoms. That’s why it’s important to undergo blood cholesterol screenings periodically so your provider can assess your levels and offer treatment as needed. A high cholesterol screening involves a simple blood test that lets your provider know which treatments, if any, are the most appropriate.
While high cholesterol can happen to anybody, certain factors increase your risk of experiencing it. Examples include:
The best way to reduce your risk of developing high cholesterol is to maintain healthy lifestyle habits.
If you have high cholesterol, your Farr Medical Group, Inc. provider might recommend one or more of the following treatments:
Making healthy lifestyle changes is one of the best ways to reduce high cholesterol naturally. Eat a nutritious diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and other fiber-rich foods, achieve or maintain a healthy weight, exercise regularly, manage chronic diseases if you have them, reduce your intake of animal fats, and avoid smoking.
Your provider may suggest you take specific dietary supplements, such as fish oil, fiber supplements, high-dose niacin, or other natural supplements to lower blood cholesterol into a healthier range.
If other treatments haven’t worked to reduce high cholesterol, your Farr Medical Group, Inc. provider may suggest you take cholesterol-lowering medications to reduce your risk of a heart attack and stroke.
Don’t let high cholesterol go undetected and untreated. Schedule a cholesterol screening with Farr Medical Group, Inc. by phone or online today.
