High cholesterol is one of the most common conditions Dr. Fayz Yar Khan, MD, FACP sees in patients across Phoenix, North Phoenix, Paradise Valley, and Scottsdale — and one of the most underestimated. Because elevated cholesterol causes no symptoms until serious damage is done, millions of people live with dangerously high levels without knowing it. The good news: it is highly treatable, and catching it early makes a profound difference in your long-term heart health.
What Is High Cholesterol?
Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance your body needs to build cells and produce hormones. It travels through your bloodstream in two main forms:
- LDL (low-density lipoprotein) — often called “bad” cholesterol. High LDL levels cause plaque to build up inside your arteries, narrowing them and raising your risk of heart attack and stroke.
- HDL (high-density lipoprotein) — often called “good” cholesterol. HDL carries excess cholesterol back to the liver for removal, helping protect your arteries.
Your lipid panel also measures triglycerides — another type of blood fat that, when elevated, adds additional cardiovascular risk. Together, these numbers give your doctor a complete picture of your cardiovascular risk profile.
According to the American Heart Association, nearly 94 million American adults have total cholesterol levels above 200 mg/dL. Yet because high cholesterol produces no warning signs on its own, the only way to know your numbers is through a simple blood test.
Who Is at Risk?
While anyone can develop high cholesterol, certain factors significantly raise the likelihood:
- Diet high in saturated and trans fats — found in red meat, full-fat dairy, fried foods, and processed snacks
- Physical inactivity — a sedentary lifestyle lowers HDL and raises LDL
- Obesity — excess body weight disrupts the balance of cholesterol in the blood
- Type 2 diabetes — often accompanied by abnormal lipid levels, particularly high triglycerides and low HDL
- Hypothyroidism — an underactive thyroid gland impairs cholesterol metabolism
- Family history — familial hypercholesterolemia is a genetic condition that causes very high LDL from birth, regardless of lifestyle
- Age and sex — cholesterol levels tend to rise with age; women often see LDL increase after menopause
- Smoking — lowers HDL and damages artery walls, accelerating plaque buildup
In the Phoenix area, the combination of sedentary indoor lifestyles during hot summer months and a diet that can lean heavily on fast food makes high cholesterol particularly prevalent. That is why routine screening is so important, even for people who feel perfectly healthy.
Cardiovascular Risk: Why Your Cholesterol Numbers Matter So Much
Left untreated, high LDL cholesterol leads to atherosclerosis — the progressive narrowing and hardening of the arteries. Over years and decades, this process dramatically increases the risk of:
- Heart attack (myocardial infarction)
- Stroke
- Peripheral artery disease
- Aortic aneurysm
At Four Peaks Primary Care, we do not look at cholesterol in isolation. Dr. Yar Khan uses validated cardiovascular risk calculators — such as the ACC/AHA Pooled Cohort Equations — to determine your actual 10-year risk of a major cardiovascular event. This risk-based approach means your treatment plan is personalized to you, not just to a number on a lab report.
Treatment Options: Lifestyle, Medication, and Monitoring
The cornerstone of cholesterol management is lifestyle modification. For many patients, meaningful changes in diet and activity level can significantly reduce LDL and triglycerides:
- Replacing saturated fats with unsaturated fats (olive oil, avocados, nuts, fatty fish)
- Increasing dietary fiber — oats, legumes, fruits, and vegetables bind cholesterol in the gut
- 150 minutes or more of moderate aerobic exercise per week
- Achieving and maintaining a healthy weight
- Quitting smoking
- Limiting alcohol intake
When lifestyle changes are not sufficient — or when your baseline cardiovascular risk is elevated — medication is often indicated. Statins (such as atorvastatin and rosuvastatin) are the most well-studied and effective class of cholesterol-lowering drugs, reducing LDL by 30–50% and cutting cardiovascular event risk substantially. For patients who cannot tolerate statins or need additional LDL reduction, other options include:
- Ezetimibe — blocks cholesterol absorption in the intestine
- PCSK9 inhibitors — injectable medications that dramatically lower LDL in high-risk patients
- Bempedoic acid — an oral option for statin-intolerant patients
- Fibrates and omega-3 fatty acids — primarily used to lower elevated triglycerides
Once treatment is established, repeat lipid panels every 3–12 months allow Dr. Yar Khan to track your progress and adjust your plan as needed.
When Should You See a Doctor?
Current guidelines recommend that all adults age 20 and older have their cholesterol checked at least once every 4–6 years. If you have risk factors — diabetes, hypertension, a family history of early heart disease, or obesity — more frequent screening is appropriate. Children with a family history of familial hypercholesterolemia should be screened as early as age 9–11.
You should schedule an appointment promptly if:
- You have never had a lipid panel
- You have been told your cholesterol is “borderline high” but were not started on treatment
- You have a close family member who had a heart attack or stroke before age 55 (men) or 65 (women)
- You are managing diabetes, hypertension, or metabolic syndrome
- You are starting or adjusting cholesterol medication and need follow-up labs
Take Control of Your Heart Health at Four Peaks Primary Care
At Four Peaks Primary Care & Internal Medicine, Dr. Fayz Yar Khan, MD, FACP brings board-certified internal medicine expertise to patients throughout Phoenix, North Phoenix, Paradise Valley, and Scottsdale. Managing cholesterol is one of the most impactful things you can do for your long-term health — and it starts with a conversation and a blood test.
Our team takes a comprehensive, data-driven approach: we assess your full cardiovascular risk profile, explain your results in plain language, and work with you to build a plan that fits your life. Whether that means optimizing your diet, starting a statin, or simply monitoring your numbers annually, we are here to guide every step.
Schedule your appointment at yarkhanmd.com/appointments or call (623) 256-4160 today.
