High Cholesterol
Lipid testing in our office, a personal look at your heart risk, and follow-up that keeps your plan on track.
What Is High Cholesterol?
Cholesterol is a waxy fat your body uses to build cells and make hormones. It travels in your blood in particles called lipoproteins. LDL is often called the bad cholesterol because it can build up in artery walls. HDL is the good kind because it helps carry cholesterol away. Triglycerides are another blood fat measured on the same test.
High cholesterol means too much LDL or total cholesterol, sometimes with low HDL or high triglycerides. Over time, buildup called plaque can narrow arteries and raise the risk of heart attack and stroke. A simple blood test called a lipid panel shows where you stand.
Does High Cholesterol Cause Symptoms?
High cholesterol has no symptoms on its own, so problems usually show up only when arteries are already affected.
No early warning signs
Most people learn they have high cholesterol from a routine blood test, not from how they feel.
Chest pain with activity
Narrowed heart arteries can cause chest tightness or pressure during exertion.
Leg pain when walking
Cramping in the calves that eases with rest can point to narrowed leg arteries.
Yellowish skin deposits
Small fatty bumps around the eyes or on tendons can appear in people with very high levels, often inherited.
Stroke warning signs
Sudden weakness, face drooping or trouble speaking need emergency care right away.
Causes and Risk Factors
Cholesterol levels come from both your genes and your daily habits.
- Family history or inherited high cholesterol
- Diets high in saturated and trans fats
- Low physical activity
- Extra weight, especially around the waist
- Diabetes, thyroid problems or kidney disease
- Smoking and getting older
How We Treat High Cholesterol
We start by drawing a lipid panel in our office and looking at your full cardiovascular picture, including blood pressure, blood sugar, family history and smoking. That tells us how aggressive your plan needs to be. For some people, changes to food and activity are the first step. Others benefit from medication, and we explain why before prescribing.
Cholesterol care is ongoing. We repeat your labs at follow-up visits to see how your numbers respond, manage side effects, and adjust your medicine if needed. If a specialist would help, such as a cardiologist, we coordinate the referral.
- Lipid panels drawn in our office
- A personal review of your heart and stroke risk
- Medication management and follow-up labs
- Practical food and activity guidance
When to See a Doctor
Most adults should have their cholesterol checked regularly as part of preventive care. Book sooner if any of these apply to you. Call 911 for chest pain or signs of a stroke.
- You have never had a lipid panel, or it has been several years
- A parent or sibling had a heart attack or stroke at a young age
- You have diabetes, high blood pressure or extra weight
- You stopped a cholesterol medicine because of side effects
Frequently Asked Questions
What type of doctor should I see for high cholesterol?
A family medicine or primary care provider can test, diagnose and treat high cholesterol for most patients. We refer you to a cardiologist when your risk or test results call for one.
What is the most effective treatment for high cholesterol?
The right plan depends on your overall risk, not just one number. Many people combine diet and activity changes with medication. Your provider reviews your labs with you and adjusts the plan over time.
Can I get my cholesterol checked at your office?
Yes. We draw labs in-house, so your lipid panel and any other blood work can be done during your visit and kept in one chart.
How soon can I get an appointment?
We are accepting new patients, and most new-patient appointments are available within the same week. Call (727) 322-4227 or request an appointment online.
Will my insurance cover cholesterol testing?
We accept most major insurance plans, and coverage for labs depends on your plan. Our front desk can verify your benefits before your visit.
Related Conditions
Treatments for High Cholesterol
We Accept Most Major Insurance Plans
Most major insurances accepted, please call our office to verify
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