Nearly 29 million people in the United States have high cholesterol, which is a risk factor for heart disease, heart attack, and stroke. Because high cholesterol doesn’t cause symptoms, many people may not know they have it. Board-certified physician Sam Morayati, MD, of Burlington Medical Center/Carolina Nuclear Medicine in Burlington, North Carolina, takes a personalized approach to care and provides testing and treatment for high cholesterol. For comprehensive care from an experienced internal medicine physician, contact the office by phone or online today.
Cholesterol is a waxy fat found in almost every cell in your body. You need cholesterol to make various hormones, vitamin D, and bile, which is a substance that helps break down fat in your small intestines.
Your body makes all the cholesterol it needs to perform these necessary functions.
If you have high blood cholesterol levels, the excess cholesterol may stick to the walls of your blood vessels, causing them to narrow and stiffen and increasing your risk of having a heart attack or stroke.
Many factors cause high cholesterol, but most of the causes are in your control. You may be at risk of developing high cholesterol if:
Your genetics may also affect your cholesterol levels. Some people have a genetic variant that prevents cells from efficiently removing cholesterol from the blood.
Dr. Morayati performs a lipid profile test to diagnose high cholesterol. Your lipid profile measures your:
A total cholesterol number of 240 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) or higher is considered high cholesterol and increases your risk of heart disease or having a heart attack. For heart health, adults should have a total cholesterol of 200 mg/dL or less.
To get the most accurate results, Dr. Morayati asks that you fast for up to 12 hours prior to your lipid profile test.
In addition to your lipid test, he also performs a physical exam and possibly a heart disease exam at his nuclear cardiology clinic. During your heart disease exam, he may conduct:
Dr. Morayati uses the information gathered from your exam and testing to create your personalized treatment plan.
Dr. Morayati develops personalized treatment plans to help you improve your cholesterol number. Because lifestyle plays such a major role in the development of high cholesterol, he may first recommend lifestyle changes, such as:
If your cholesterol remains elevated after you make lifestyle changes, Dr. Morayati may prescribe medication to help improve your high cholesterol.
High cholesterol is common and develops without causing any signs or symptoms. To get your levels checked, contact Burlington Medical Center/Carolina Nuclear Medicine by phone or use the online booking tool today.