High Cholesterol (Hyperlipidemia)

High cholesterol, also called hyperlipidemia, is when there is too much cholesterol in your blood. Cholesterol is a waxy substance your body needs in small amounts, and when there is too much of the harmful type it builds up inside artery walls, narrowing them and raising the risk of heart attack and stroke. Avita MD primary care providers test for and manage high cholesterol for adults in Los Altos, Mountain View, and Los Gatos, using on-site lab testing and a plan matched to your overall cardiovascular risk.

What are the symptoms of high cholesterol?

High cholesterol itself produces no symptoms, which is why a simple blood test is the only reliable way to detect it. Problems usually surface only after cholesterol has narrowed the arteries over many years. Signs that the underlying buildup is advancing can include:

• Chest pain or angina when heart arteries are narrowed
• Leg pain with walking from reduced circulation
• Shortness of breath with exertion
• Fatty deposits under the skin in severe inherited forms

Because there are no early warning signs, screening is the heart of good care here.

Cholesterol target ranges

These desirable levels apply to most adults age 20 and older. Values are in milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL). Your provider may set a lower personal target based on your risk.

Measure	Desirable level (adults 20+)
Total cholesterol	Less than 200 mg/dL
LDL (“bad”) cholesterol	Less than 100 mg/dL
HDL (“good”) cholesterol	60 mg/dL or higher is best
Triglycerides	Less than 150 mg/dL

A higher HDL is protective, while higher LDL and triglycerides raise risk.

How does Avita MD diagnose and treat high cholesterol?

Diagnosis begins with a lipid panel, a blood test that measures total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, and triglycerides. On-site phlebotomy at all three locations means you can have the draw done during your visit without a separate trip to a lab. We read those numbers alongside your blood pressure, blood sugar, family history, and lifestyle to estimate your overall cardiovascular risk, since cholesterol is only one part of the picture.

From there we build a plan that fits you. For many people that means heart-healthy eating, regular activity, and weight management first, with a statin or other medication added when your risk warrants it. Because the same provider follows your results over time, we can compare lipid panels across visits, see whether changes are working, and adjust before small problems grow. Same-day and next-day appointments make it easy to review results promptly, and when narrowed arteries or related heart concerns need specialist input, we coordinate referrals to cardiology at Stanford or El Camino Health, including prior authorizations.

When should you see a doctor about high cholesterol?

See a doctor if you have not had a cholesterol test in several years, if a prior test was high, or if you have risk factors such as heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, smoking, or a family history of high cholesterol or early heart disease. A routine primary care visit is the right place to start, and the lab can often be drawn the same day.

Seek emergency care right away for chest pain or pressure, pain spreading to the arm, jaw, or back, sudden shortness of breath, or signs of stroke such as face drooping, arm weakness, or slurred speech. Call 911, since these can signal a heart attack or stroke.