Hypercholesterolemia

Poorly controlled cholesterol levels greatly increase your risk of heart disease and other chronic complications. If you can’t control your cholesterol with oral statins, you may be a candidate for the treatments available at Bioinfusion Center. The medical team offers personalized care plans to support healthy cholesterol levels. Cindy Crosby, MSN, FNP, CCRN, CRNI, can prescribe injectable or intravenous therapies to deliver cholesterol-lowering medications directly into your blood. Call the Farmington Hills, Michigan, office today to learn more about your options for hypercholesterolemia treatment or book a consultation online. 

What is hypercholesterolemia?

Hypercholesterolemia is a lipid disorder that causes high levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) in the bloodstream. LDL is referred to as bad cholesterol because these lipoproteins can build up along the artery walls, narrow the vessels, and block blood flow to the rest of your body — a condition known as atherosclerosis.

Postmenopausal women over 40 are at the highest risk for hypercholesterolemia, but the condition can develop in adults of any age. Factors that can increase your risk for the disorder include:

• Diabetes
• Tobacco use
• Lack of exercise
• High-fat diet
• Hypothyroidism

If left unmanaged, hypercholesterolemia can significantly increase risk factors for stroke, heart attack, and premature death.

Bioinfusion Center specializes in IV infusion therapy for adults with hypercholesterolemia who don’t respond well to oral statins. The team customizes a care plan to reduce your LDL levels and lower your risk for cardiovascular disease and other complications.

What are the symptoms of hypercholesterolemia?

Hypercholesterolemia typically doesn’t cause symptoms until heart disease or blockages in the blood vessels occur. For this reason, many people have elevated LDL levels for years without knowing it.

If you’re at increased risk of hypercholesterolemia due to your medical history or lifestyle, it’s important that you get regular blood tests to assess your cholesterol levels. Seek immediate medical attention if you have cardiovascular-related symptoms like shortness of breath or chest pain.

The Bioinfusion Center team recommends scheduling a consultation if you’re taking traditional medications to lower your LDL cholesterol levels but they aren’t working well. They complete a health exam to determine if you’re a candidate for injections or IV infusion therapy.

Which treatments are available for hypercholesterolemia?

Injections and IV infusion therapy deliver medications directly into your bloodstream that lower LDL cholesterol levels.

Medications like Leqvio® support your liver, so it can remove a higher volume of bad cholesterol. If you’re a candidate for Leqvio, the team administers the initial injection, followed by another dose three months later. Maintenance doses are required every six months (two doses a year) to control your LDL cholesterol levels.

Your provider also recommends lifestyle changes to support healthy cholesterol levels, such as eating a low-fat diet, losing weight, quitting smoking, and limiting alcohol use.

Call Bioinfusion Center today to schedule a hypercholesterolemia consultation or book an appointment online.