High Cholesterol Treatment Clinic in Orange City FL

At Town Center Family Practice, we prioritize your heart health and overall well-being. High cholesterol is a common condition that we help our patients manage every day. Cholesterol is a fatty substance needed for building cells and producing certain hormones, but when there is too much cholesterol—especially low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol—it can build up in your arteries. Over time, this buildup forms plaques that can narrow or block arteries, making it more difficult for blood to flow.

Why is this important? Because restricted blood flow increases your risk for serious health problems, including heart attacks and strokes. High cholesterol can also contribute to peripheral artery disease, affecting blood flow to your arms and legs. It’s important to remember that high cholesterol often has no symptoms, which is why routine blood tests are a key part of preventive care at Town Center Family Practice.

Risk factors for high cholesterol include:

• An unhealthy diet high in saturated and trans fats
• Lack of physical activity
• Obesity
• Smoking
• Excessive alcohol consumption
• Family history of high cholesterol

Our team at Town Center Family Practice is dedicated to helping you reduce your risk. We offer cholesterol screening as part of your annual wellness visits and can provide personalized guidance on lifestyle changes, including nutrition and exercise. When necessary, we also prescribe and manage medications to help keep your cholesterol within a healthy range.

At Town Center Family Practice, we frequently help patients manage and understand high cholesterol—a common health issue that can increase the risk of heart disease and stroke if left untreated. High cholesterol often results from a combination of lifestyle choices and underlying health conditions.

• Lifestyle Factors: An unhealthy diet, particularly one high in saturated fats, trans fats, and cholesterol-rich foods (like red meat, full-fat dairy, processed, and fried foods), is a primary contributor to elevated cholesterol levels. Additionally, lack of regular physical activity can lower your “good” HDL cholesterol and raise “bad” LDL cholesterol. Carrying excess weight or being obese further worsens cholesterol numbers by raising LDL and triglycerides and lowering HDL.

• Other Contributing Factors: Habits such as smoking and excessive alcohol use can also negatively impact cholesterol. Smoking damages blood vessels and lowers HDL, while too much alcohol can raise total cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

• Genetics and Medical Conditions: Some individuals inherit a tendency for high cholesterol, a condition called familial hypercholesterolemia. Other health conditions—such as diabetes, hypothyroidism, kidney disease, and liver disease—can also elevate cholesterol levels. Certain medications for blood pressure, steroids, and some diuretics may have similar effects.

How Town Center Family Practice Can Help:

We take a comprehensive, personalized approach to cholesterol management. Our providers at Town Center Family Practice offer:

• Cholesterol screening and risk assessment as part of your routine wellness visits
• Nutritional counseling to help you make heart-healthy food choices
• Exercise and lifestyle recommendations tailored to your needs
• Support for smoking cessation and weight management
• Medication management when lifestyle changes alone aren’t enough
• Ongoing monitoring to track your progress and adjust your treatment plan as needed

At Town Center Family Practice, we want our patients to know that high cholesterol is often called a “silent” condition because it usually doesn’t cause any noticeable symptoms. Most people with high cholesterol feel completely normal and may not be aware of their elevated cholesterol levels until they have a blood test. This is why routine cholesterol screening, which we provide here at Town Center Family Practice, is so important for maintaining your health.

In rare cases, extremely high cholesterol—especially when caused by genetic conditions like familial hypercholesterolemia—can result in visible signs, such as yellowish cholesterol deposits under the skin (xanthomas) or around the eyes (xanthelasmas). However, for most people, high cholesterol goes undetected until it contributes to more serious health issues.

High cholesterol increases your risk of developing atherosclerosis, a condition in which fatty deposits build up in your arteries. Over time, this can lead to complications such as chest pain (angina), heart attack, or stroke. These serious events are not early symptoms, but rather consequences of long-term, untreated high cholesterol.

That’s why our team at Town Center Family Practice encourages regular cholesterol screenings, especially for patients with risk factors like a family history of heart disease, obesity, unhealthy diet, or a lack of physical activity. If you have concerns about your cholesterol, our providers are here to support you with comprehensive testing, personalized advice, and effective treatment options to help you manage your heart health.

At Town Center Family Practice, we diagnose high cholesterol through a simple blood test called a lipid panel or lipid profile. This important test measures the levels of various types of fats in your blood, including total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol—often referred to as “bad” cholesterol—high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, known as “good” cholesterol, and triglycerides.

Before your lipid panel, our providers may ask you to fast for 9 to 12 hours, as eating can affect the accuracy of the results, particularly the measurement of triglycerides. During your appointment at Town Center Family Practice, a member of our skilled clinical team will draw a small blood sample, usually from a vein in your arm. The sample is then sent to our trusted laboratory partners, where your cholesterol and triglyceride levels are carefully measured.

When your results are available, one of our experienced family medicine providers will review them with you and explain what they mean for your health. Cholesterol levels are measured in milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) of blood. If your results show high levels of LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, or low levels of HDL cholesterol, it may indicate a higher risk for heart disease and other health problems.

At Town Center Family Practice, we believe in proactive care. Based on your results, we will work with you to develop a personalized plan that may include lifestyle changes, further testing, or medication to help manage your cholesterol and protect your long-term health. We also recommend regular cholesterol screenings, especially if you have risk factors such as a family history of heart disease, obesity, or diabetes.

As part of the compassionate team at Town Center Family Practice, Dr. Luis treats high cholesterol not just with medication, but with a focus on comprehensive health. Our approach includes:

• Cardiac Risk Assessment: Thoroughly evaluating your total risk beyond cholesterol numbers, taking into account family history, blood pressure, and other chronic conditions like Diabetes.
• Personalized Planning: Developing a customized treatment plan that integrates patient education, dietary modifications, and exercise guidance alongside medication adjustments (if necessary).
• Chronic Care Management: Treating high cholesterol as an ongoing condition that requires consistent monitoring and care. We work with you to set realistic wellness goals and make necessary adjustments to ensure effective, long-term health maintenance.

We are dedicated to building a lasting relationship where you feel heard and supported throughout your journey to lower your cholesterol and protect your heart.

Dr. Luis integrates your unique health goals into a comprehensive Chronic Care Management strategy, ensuring a holistic focus on your wellness, not just your blood sugar numbers. His approach is built on three pillars:

• Personalized Care Plans: We develop an individualized roadmap tailored to your specific type of diabetes (Type 1, Type 2, or Prediabetes) and your lifestyle. This includes setting achievable A1C goals, dietary guidance, and appropriate medication or insulin management.

• Consistent Monitoring and Management: Effective diabetes care requires consistency. We provide regular check-ins and support to track your health metrics, improve medication adherence, and make timely adjustments to your treatment plan to prevent complications.

• Holistic Wellness: Recognizing that diabetes affects the whole person, our treatment extends beyond medication. We focus on lifestyle modifications, including nutrition and exercise regimens, and address the emotional and social challenges of living with a chronic condition to enhance your overall quality of life.

By choosing our clinic, you gain a dedicated healthcare team that works seamlessly with you to manage your diabetes effectively, helping you achieve lasting health and vitality.

If you have concerns about your cholesterol or would like to schedule a screening, please visit Town Center Family Practice today. Your heart health is our priority! Book an appointment online or contact us for more information. We are conveniently located at 1642 N. Volusia Ave, Orange City, FL 32763. We serve patients from Orange City FL, DeLand FL, Deltona FL, DeBary FL, Lake Monroe FL, Sanford FL, and surrounding areas.