Cholestrol

What is Cholesterol?

It's important to know that high cholesterol levels are often a significant risk factor for heart disease and usually displays no signs or symptoms. There are two types of cholesterol, LDL and HDL.

LDL is low-density lipoprotein or bad cholesterol. LDL can join with fats and other substances to build up in the inner walls of your arteries, causing them to become narrow and clogged and reducing blood flow.

HDL or high-density lipoprotein is good cholesterol, used to keep harmful cholesterol away from arteries and protect you from heart attack or stroke.

Where does cholesterol come from?

Your body, specifically your liver, makes all the cholesterol you need. The rest of the cholesterol in your body comes from foods that are high in saturated and trans fats that cause your liver to produce more cholesterol than it normally would. These foods include; meat, poultry, full-fat dairy products and tropical oils.

Cholesterol Testing

Cholesterol screenings are recommended every 5 years for everyone over the age of 20. Our pharmacists can help provide treatment recommendations to help get your cholesterol under control.

  • Total cholesterol screening (non-fasting).
  • Total lipid profile that includes: Total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, triglycerides and glucose (fasting).

Ways to reduce cholesterol levels

These simple changes can help lower your risk of heart attack and stroke

  1. Stop smoking
  2. Make heart healthy eating and drinking choices
  3. Move more
  4. Lose weight
  5. Take medications as prescribed

Learn more about controlling your cholesterol by visiting the American Heart Association here > .