You can have high cholesterol and not feel anything wrong until some serious damage has been done to your body. Dr. Ronaldo Calonje diagnoses and treats patients with high cholesterol with lifestyle changes and medication in Tamarac, Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Patients interested in high cholesterol treatment should call South Florida Sports Medicine and Primary Care to schedule an appointment with Dr. Calonje.
If left untreated, high cholesterol can lead to a buildup of cholesterol and other substances on the walls of your arteries. These accumulations, or plaques, reduce the flow of blood through the arteries, which can lead to an increased risk of stroke and heart attack..
Cholesterol is a normal and essential component of the blood, but some people accumulate more than they need. Some of the risk factors that may lead to high cholesterol include:
Genetics also plays a role in the development of high cholesterol.
Dr. Calonje diagnoses high cholesterol based on the results of a blood test. With a confirmed the diagnosis, he may recommend several different treatment options. Many patients are able to lower their cholesterol through lifestyle changes alone. Dr. Calonje encourages patients with high cholesterol to exercise regularly, maintain a healthy weight, eat a nutritious diet, and quit smoking.
In some cases, lifestyle changes may not be enough to normalize high cholesterol levels. In such cases, Dr. Calonje may prescribe medications. The most common medications prescribed to patients with high cholesterol include statins, cholesterol absorption inhibitors, and bile-acid-binding resins. Some patients may also benefit from injectable medications designed to lower the amount of cholesterol in the blood.
At South Florida Sports Medicine & Primary Care, we accept most major insurance plans. Here is a short-list of just some of the most popular plans we accept. Please contact our office if you do not see your insurance provider listed.