It’s important to manage your blood cholesterol to prevent related diseases such as heart disease and keep your body happy and healthy.

What is cholesterol: Cholesterol is a fat-like substance that is found inside your body and also in many foods. Your body naturally makes enough cholesterol, but elevated levels can lead to further health problems. Cholesterol travels through your bloodstream and helps to make hormones, vitamin D, and helps you digest food intake.

Who can develop high blood cholesterol: People of all shapes and ages can develop to a high cholesterol level. In most cases weight is a factor of high cholesterol, but high cholesterol is also linked to family history. You are more at risk of developing high cholesterol if someone in your family also struggled with elevated cholesterol levels.

What’s the risk: Having high cholesterol puts you at a greater risk of developing heart disease, which is a leading cause of death in the United States. Cholesterol build-up in your arteries, leads to blockages that left ignored, could put you at risk of having coronary artery disease as well as a stroke.

Getting tested: Because having high cholesterol often doesn’t produce any symptoms, many people don’t know they have elevated cholesterol levels. Speak with your health care provider about regularly checking your cholesterol. Checking cholesterol levels is as simple as doing a blood test performed by your health care provider. Checks should be performed at least once every 5 years.

Managing high cholesterol: Managing cholesterol is sometimes as easy as making a few minor life style adjustments. Tips like eating more fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, and whole grains may help lower cholesterol. Maintaining a healthy weight also reduces your risk of high cholesterol. However, in some more extreme cases, medication is necessary to further treat high cholesterol.

First treats many illnesses and injuries, including offering a full service lab for cholesterol screenings. All Patient First centers are open 8am - 8pm, on a walk-in basis- no appointment necessary!


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