High cholesterol is a major health issue that affects millions of Americans every year.  Our functional medicine high cholesterol doctor sees this far too often in Naperville.  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 102 million adults in the United States have high cholesterol. High cholesterol can lead to serious health problems such as heart disease, stroke, and atherosclerosis. The American Heart Association reports that high cholesterol contributes to more than 2,200 deaths every day in the United States.

High cholesterol can be managed with lifestyle changes, such as eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly. Additionally, medications such as statins can help lower cholesterol levels. It is important to know your cholesterol levels and work with your doctor to develop a plan to help keep them in check. Taking steps to reduce cholesterol levels can help prevent serious health health risks down the road.  Learn more from our functional medicine doctors at Naperville Integrated Wellness now.

Functional Medicine and High Cholesterol

Functional medicine is an approach to patient care that emphasizes the use of natural and preventive treatments to achieve optimal health. It focuses on understanding the root cause of diseases, rather than just treating the symptoms. In the case of high cholesterol, functional medicine can help by assessing lifestyle and dietary factors that may be contributing to the problem. This includes evaluating diet, physical activity levels, stress levels, and the presence of any underlying medical conditions.

Through this assessment, treatment strategies can be identified to help lower cholesterol levels, such as increasing fiber intake, reducing saturated fats and adding omega-3 fatty acids to the diet, and engaging in regular physical activity. Additionally, functional medicine practitioners may prescribe nutritional supplements or herbs to help balance cholesterol levels. By taking a comprehensive look at the root cause, you can ensure our functional medicine high cholesterol doctors is here to help.

What is cholesterol?

Cholesterol is a fatty, waxy substance found in the bloodstream and in all your body’s cells. It plays an important role in the production of hormones, cell membranes, and vitamin D. Your body needs cholesterol to function properly, but too much of it can increase your risk for heart disease. High levels of bad LDL cholesterol can build up in your arteries, raising your risk for stroke, heart attack, and other serious health problems.

Healthy eating habits and regular physical activity are key to maintaining healthy cholesterol levels. Eating foods low in saturated fat, trans fat, and cholesterol and high in fiber can help lower your LDL cholesterol levels. Exercise helps raise HDL cholesterol levels, which can help protect against heart disease. Talk to your functional medicine doctor about your cholesterol level today.

High Cholesterol vs Cholesterol

High cholesterol is an excess of cholesterol in the blood. It is caused by poor diet, lack of exercise, age, genetics, or other underlying health conditions.  Cholesterol is a type of lipid found in the bloodstream. It is a waxy, fat-like substance that your body needs to function properly. High cholesterol can cause a buildup of plaque in the arteries, leading to an increased risk of heart attack and stroke.

To lower the risk of developing high cholesterol, individuals should make lifestyle changes. Such as eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly, and maintaining a healthy weight. Medications may be prescribed to help lower cholesterol levels. Cholesterol is a natural part of the body. On the contrary high cholesterol levels can be dangerous and should be monitored by a professional.

Does cholesterol really cause heart disease?

This may come as a surprise, but cholesterol is NOT THE CAUSE of heart disease. I understand this is bold statement and contradicts everything we have ever been told about heart disease.  Stick with me here and I will explain why the problem is not cholesterol. What is heart disease? The simple answer would be “blocked arteries.” These blockages are called atherosclerotic plaques (plaque). These plaques contain cholesterol and other substances. Now, here is the real important question. ”Why do these plaques form in the arteries?”

Why is cholesterol “sticking” to your arteries?

Cholesterol and plaque do not attach themselves to healthy arteries. This is just a simple medical fact! The inside of your arteries are lined by a layer of cells called the endothelium. When this endothelium becomes chronically inflamed or damaged cholesterol begins to stick to it and can form plaque. This is the initial step and the CAUSE of plaque formation and heart disease. But not because your cholesterol levels are 250! You could really simplify this further and compare plaque on an artery to a scab that forms on a skinned knee. They are both the result of damage to the body. It is idiotic logic to blame the formation of plaque on the existence of cholesterol.

Common causes of endothelium damage

• High blood pressure
• High insulin or blood sugar (fasting and HbA1cs determined by blood test)
• Chronic inflammation (determined by blood test)
• Elevated homocysteine or CRP in the blood (determined by blood test)
• Excess free radicals and low antioxidants in the diet
• Low levels of essential fatty acids

The medical explanation for the cause of atherosclerotic plaque is called the “response-to- injury hypothesis / theory”.  It can be found in any decent medical textbook on disease (any pathology textbook). Every doctor should already be aware of this hypothesis.  As the cause of heart disease and should know better than to blame cholesterol as the cause. Doctors need to spend more time studying unbiased medical facts.  They should spend less time accepting the “facts” and “unbiased studies” presented to them by pharmaceutical representatives. There is NO money to be made in preventing heart disease. There is billions to made lowering cholesterol.

It does not matter if your total cholesterol is 180 or 300! Cholesterol will begin stick to your arteries if the endothelium is damaged! In fact, hospital admission data shows that more than 50% of those who have had a heart attack have “normal” cholesterol levels. The majority of individuals who suffer heart attack or stroke have “normal” cholesterol levels. Millions of Americans have been taking cholesterol-lowering medication for decades. If cholesterol was the cause of heart disease then heart disease statistics would be dropping significantly. However, cholesterol is not. According to the American Heart Association: heart disease is still the #1 killer of Americans and is also the #1 killer of women, taking more lives than all forms of cancer combined.

Schedule A Functional Medicine High Cholesterol Doctor Appointment Today

At Naperville Integrated Wellness, we practice functional medicine which addressees the true cause of disease, not just the effects of disease. For a comprehensive assessment of your true cardiovascular risk factors and how to reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke please visit napervilleintegratedwellness.com.  If you are looking for a functional medicine doctor in Chicago, Aurora, St. Charles or Orland Park, please contact us today!