High Cholesterol

Jeffery Tun, MD

Primary Care Physician located in Midtown East, New York, NY & Forest Hills, NY

High cholesterol dramatically increases your risk of arterial insufficiency and heart disease. High cholesterol doesn’t cause outward symptoms, which is why you benefit from regular testing. At the office of Jeffery Tun, MD, you get regular cholesterol screenings and management if you have high levels. Call today or use this website to set up your appointment online at the Midtown East, Manhattan in New York City office with Dr. Tun.

High Cholesterol Q & A

What is cholesterol?

Cholesterol is a type of fat that your body produces and needs to produce certain hormones, drive your metabolism, and build cell membranes. Too much cholesterol can lead to serious health problems, including heart disease.

Cholesterol comes in two major forms: low-density lipoproteins (LDLs) and high-density lipoproteins (HDL). LDL is called “bad” cholesterol because it’s the type that causes coronary artery disease.

HDL is a “good” kind of cholesterol because it takes excess cholesterol from the bloodstream, carrying it back to the liver for disposal.

What is high cholesterol?

Your cholesterol levels are measured via a simple fasted blood screening.

You should aim for a total cholesterol level of below 200 mg/dL. Ideally, you have an HDL level of 100 mg/dL or lower, HDL of 40 mg/dL or higher, and triglycerides under 149 mg/dL.

Dr. Tun may diagnose you with borderline high cholesterol if you have a reading of 200-239 mg/dL. Lifestyle changes can help you reduce these numbers and prevent complications associated with high cholesterol.

hen your cholesterol levels are 240 mg/dL or higher, you have high cholesterol. An LDL level of 160 mg/dL or greater and triglycerides of 200 mg/dL is concerning.

What is the connection between high cholesterol and heart health?

High levels of cholesterol, especially LDL cholesterol, means plaque starts to accumulate on the walls of your arteries. This can lead to clogs or blockages in your blood flow. This results in a lack of healthy blood going to your internal organs and tissues. If your heart is denied blood, it can result in serious complications like heart attack and stroke.

How do you treat high cholesterol?

High cholesterol often lowers in response to healthy lifestyle changes. Dr. Tun recommends:

Quitting smoking
Losing weight if you’re overweight or obese
Limiting saturated fat
Exercising regularly
Eating fewer processed foods

A healthy lifestyle goes a long way in reducing high cholesterol levels, but sometimes, these steps aren’t enough.

You may need certain medications to help your body lower its cholesterol levels. If you’ve developed arterial insufficiency, treatments include surgery to widen the arteries or bypass blocked arteries altogether.

Call the office of Jeffrey Tun, MD, or use this website to schedule an appointment online to have your cholesterol checked.

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