Frequently Asked Questions

When you have first been diagnosed with high cholesterol, or are just simply curious about it, there are many questions that you may have. These are the most commonly asked questions that I get concerning cholesterol. If you can think of any more, please email me!

Q: What is cholesterol?
A: Cholesterol is a fatty molecule that manufactured by the liver and released into the bloodstream. It is needed to give strength to the membranes of cells that make up every component of your body and to serve as a template for steroid hormones like estrogen and testosterone.

Q: Should I be concerned about my cholesterol levels?
A:Yes, you should be definitely concerned by cholesterol levels. As you eat a diet that is high in cholesterol and fat, more cholesterol and other lipids circulate in the bloodstream. These molecules have no where to go, so they begin to accumulate and deposit themselves on the walls of arteries and veins. This is the beginning of the onset of heart disease.

Q: What age should one begin to worry about high cholesterol?
A: Technically, it is never too early to begin eating healthy. Good healthy eating habits should be introduced as early as possible in childhood, in order to reinforce good eating habits that last well into adulthood. With obesity on the rise in the United States, a small percentage of children are seen that have very high cholesterol levels. Many physicians recommend that you should have your cholesterol levels tested as young as 20 years of age.

Q: Are high cholesterol levels hereditary?
A: Yes, hyperlipidemia, or high cholesterol, can be hereditary. Scientists have linked this to a genetic defect in a molecule apoprotein. An apoprotein is a molecule that is bound to all lipoproteins that docks the cholesterol onto the protein carrier. If you have a parent or sibling with abnormally high cholesterol levels, you may run a higher risk of having high cholesterol, too.

Q: What can I do about high cholesterol?
A: Regardless to whether or not you have been diagnosed with high cholesterol, it is never too early to be healthy. Modifications to your lifestyle will be the first approach to your health care practitioner will take. This includes a healthy diet, incorporating exercise, and other changes such as smoking cessation. Ask your physician about a plan that is right for you.

Q: What types of foods should I be avoiding?
A:You should reduce animal products like dairy products, cheeses, processed foods and meats. These foods are high in saturated fats, which have been linked to atherosclerosis and heart disease.

Q: What kinds of foods can I eat on a low cholesterol diet?
A: You aren't restricted on a low cholesterol diet! Fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains are good things to eat when on a low cholesterol diet. Also, look for foods high in unsaturated fats, such as walnuts and fish--these foods have actually be linked to maintaining good heart health.

Q: I am having trouble controlling my cholesterol levels with diet alone. Does this mean that I will have to take prescription medication?
A: Yes, this may be a possibility. It is also important to remember that diet and exercise are also key in reducing cholesterol levels. If you are unable to maintain healthy cholesterol levels with diet and exercise, prescription medications may be chosen by your physician as an alternative.

Q: What types of cholesterol medications are available?
A: There are five general classes of prescription medications available in the United States--fibric acid derivatives, statins (HMG-CoA reductace inhibitors), bile acid sequestrants, intestinal absorption inhibitors and nicotinic acid. These drugs may be taken alone or used in combination to lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels. This is done under the discretion of your physician in conjunction will maintaining a healthy diet and exercise. Statins are the most commonly prescribed drugs, whereas there are some forms of nicotinic acid (niacin) available over-the-counter in the pharmacy.

Q: Are herbal medications and particular vitamins a good alternative to taking prescription medications?
A: Please talk to your physician or nurse practitioner about this before taking any other medications--including over-the-counter ones. Niacin and flax seed oil are the only ones I can think of that have been scientifically proven to reduce cholesterol levels. Other herbs, such as red rice extract, are also effective but already contains a HMG-Co reductase inhibitor in it---so if you are taking this and already taking a statin drug, this could place you at risk for an overdose. Most other nutraceuticals have varying in the cholesterol-lowering results obtained from taking them. Although some may provide marginal benefit in lowering your cholesterol levels, they might interact with other medications you are taking.