By New York Cardiac Diagnostic Center

01/15/2021 High cholesterol, a condition also known as hyperlipidemia, can endanger your health and lead to heart disease or even a heart attack. Having high cholesterol means you’ve got high concentrations of low-density lipoprotein (or bad) cholesterol, commonly called LDL. But high cholesterol is a treatable condition. Statins are available and widely prescribed to effectively lower your bad cholesterol. But only diet and exercise can raise your good cholesterol and control your triglycerides. If you’re at risk, have your cholesterol levels checked regularly at the New York Cardiology, Manhattan center.


Cholesterol is a type of lipid or fat your body uses to function properly. The goal of health is to achieve a state of balance in your body to ensure it functions optimally. The moment any organ or system in your body slips out of balance, health issues become apparent. There are four cholesterol-related measurements that your New York cardiologist tracks:

1. Your total cholesterol count
2. The amount of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol in your bloodstream
3. The amount of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol present
4. Your triglyceride count

HDL is referred to as the good cholesterol while LDL is the bad cholesterol. Hyperlipidemia is a condition in which your body contains too much LDL cholesterol. In general, you want to raise your HDL count while reducing your LDL count. Hyperlipidemia increases the presence of fatty deposits in your arteries and can lead to blockages, resulting in a variety of coronary diseases.


Contributing Factors to High Cholesterol
One reason for having high cholesterol may be metabolic syndrome, defined as having three or more of: a large waist, high triglyceride levels, reduced HDL cholesterol level, increased blood pressure or elevated fasting blood sugar. Metabolic syndrome is often characterized by an apple- or pear-shaped body.


You need tests to determine whether your cholesterol is out of your control due to a genetic predisposition or within your control through nutrition and weight management. When your local cardiology doctor or a leading heart specialist Dr. Reisman of Cardiology in Manhattan knows why you have high cholesterol, you can get effective treatment. Some tests your doctor may conduct include:

• Expanded lipid analysis. This analysis measures lipids, lipid subfractions, particle size and particle number.
• NMR lipoprotein. NMR stands for nuclear magnetic resonance. It’s the most in-depth way to understand your cholesterol numbers and determine your risk of heart disease. This test provides real-time, direct measurements of how much LDL is in your body.
• Carotid intima-media thickness (IMT). This is a type of noninvasive ultrasound where your carotid arteries, found in your neck, are measured. This test detects early signs of heart disease before blockages develop.
• Coronary calcium CT scan. This is a specialized x-ray that provides pictures of your heart. These images reveal if and how much plaque is present in your arteries. Plaque can restrict or completely block the flow of blood to the muscles in your heart. Your heart muscles start dying if they don’t get needed nutrients and oxygen that blood carries. This condition can cause a heart attack.
• Cardiac CT scan. Also known as computed tomography, this is a non-invasive scan, using x-rays to take detailed pictures of your heart and its blood vessels.