Patients from in and around New Braunfels, Texas who suffer from high cholesterol will find excellent care with Dr. Jay Gruhlkey and his team at Lonestar Medical.
Cholesterol a lipid, or fat, that is found in the blood stream. There are two kinds of cholesterol. HDL is the “good” form of the lipid and LDL is the “bad” form. The body needs a certain amount of both HDL and LDL cholesterol to function properly. However, depending on a person’s diet, exercise levels, and genetics, cholesterol levels can grow to dangerous levels, which can lead to a variety of cardiovascular disorders. For example, excessive cholesterol accumulates in the blood vessels and arteries leading to atherosclerosis, also known as hardening of the arteries. This can create blood flow issues that may lead to swelling and blood clots
When a person has high levels of the bad cholesterol, it increases their risk of getting cardiovascular disease including cardiac episodes like heart attacks and strokes. Cholesterol levels also indicate that a patient has other health conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes in patients.
Several factors influence cholesterol levels including:
High cholesterol in itself doesn’t cause any symptoms but leads to other serious health conditions. Regular screening is important as it is easier and more effective to treat high cholesterol when it is caught in its early stages. A blood test called a lipid panel is the most efficient way to measure a patient’s cholesterol levels. A lipid panel reveals the precise amount of the lipids in a patient’s blood. A person must also maintain adequate levels of the HDL cholesterol. Optimal LDL level is less than 100mg/dL and the optimal level for HDL cholesterol is 60mg/dL or higher.
Lonestar Medical accepts most major insurance. If you have any questions about your eligibility or coverage, please call our office. We are happy to help you!