September is National Cholesterol Education Month, and many health care providers are informing their patients about the effects of high cholesterol. Education is a great asset when it comes to managing medical conditions, especially when provided by the skilled team at Hillside Family Medicine in Anchorage, AK. They share a few important facts regarding cholesterol and the impact it can have on your health.

What Is Cholesterol?

Your body produces cholesterol, which is a waxy substance similar to fat. A certain amount of cholesterol is important for your health, but when levels exceed the norm, you can experience a few serious symptoms. Foods containing animal fat cause cholesterol to accumulate in your arteries, which leads to negative health effects down the line. In general, cholesterol is broken down into two categories; high-density lipoproteins or HDL (good cholesterol) and low-density lipoproteins or LDL (bad cholesterol).

What Can Happen When Your Levels Are High?

Unfortunately, there are no indications that your cholesterol levels are too high until a significant health event happens. This can result in an increased risk of heart attack or stroke, which can be deadly in some situations. Because high cholesterol levels can be difficult to establish on your own, doctors recommend undergoing routine exams to monitor levels.

How Can I Determine My Cholesterol Levels?

Health care providers recommend having your levels checked with lab tests once every 5 years if you’re 20 years of age or older. A complete cholesterol test or Lipid Panel is the lab test usually performed to measure the amount of cholesterol and triglycerides in your blood.  In general, your total cholesterol levels should be less than 170 mg/dL, with bad cholesterol under 110 mg/dL, good cholesterol 35 mg/dL or higher and triglycerides less than 150 mg/dL.  Here at Hillside Family Medicine we process an additional lab test called the Direct LDL if the resulting triglyceride level in the Lipid Panel is 300mg/dL or greater.  The Direct LDL further measures LDL levels as it is often skewed in the Lipid Panel when triglycerides are elevated.

How Is High Cholesterol Treated?

Diet and exercise are two good ways to keep your levels down. Regarding diet, you should focus on eating foods high in fiber and low in fat, such as whole grains with healthy servings of fruit and vegetables. Getting moderate exercise for about two and a half hours per week is also good for maintaining a normal cholesterol level. You should also refrain from smoking, as it can contribute to issues with hardened arteries and heart disease.

The health care team at Hillside Family Medicine urges their patients to undergo regular cholesterol testing. This full-service clinic also addresses a number of other issues, including pediatric care, treatment of work injuries, and screenings for both men’s and women’s health issues. To schedule an appointment at their office, call (907) 344-0200. You can also visit them online to access helpful patient resources.