September is National Cholesterol Education Month, and Indiana Health Centers (IHC) is focusing on how high cholesterol is quiet, common, and also manageable once you know where you stand.
More than one third of American adults are living with high cholesterol, and most of them feel completely fine. High cholesterol is often invisible, and it builds up slowly in the walls of your blood vessels, raising your risk for heart attack and stroke long before anything feels wrong.
The only way to know your numbers is through a blood test called a lipid profile, which is something your IHC provider can order at your next visit.
“Cholesterol is one of those things patients don’t think about until it’s already caused a problem,” said Addison Haynes, DO, Chief Medical Officer at IHC. “The good news is that a quick blood test can get us started on a pathway to prevention. We can easily monitor your response to diet, exercise, and medication. There are many different affordable options to get that number down to a healthy range.”
There are two main types of cholesterol to know about. LDL is associated with the build up in your arteries, known as plaque. HDL is the good kind that helps clear cholesterol out of your bloodstream. Your provider will look at both when reviewing your results and deciding what, if anything, needs to change.
There are some risk factors for high cholesterol that are out of your hands, like your age, sex, or family history; but plenty of others are within your control. Regular exercise, increasing the fiber in your diet, and taking any prescribed cholesterol medication as directed can all make a real difference. If your provider prescribes a statin or other cholesterol medication, sticking with it and keeping up with follow-up testing matters just as much as starting it.
At Indiana Health Centers, we see patients in communities throughout the state, and cholesterol screening is part of the whole-person care we provide at every one of our locations. If it’s been a while since your last check up, National Cholesterol Education Month can be a good reminder to put it on the calendar. Talk to your care team about getting your cholesterol tested, and ask what your numbers mean for your heart health.
To schedule a visit or learn more about cholesterol screening at your nearest IHC location, contact us today.