High Cholesterol
When to Call a Doctor
High cholesterol usually has no symptoms. Sometimes the first sign that you have high cholesterol or other risk factors for heart disease is a heart attack, a stroke, or a transient ischemic attack (TIA). If you have any symptoms of these, call911or other emergency services.
Symptoms of a heart attack include:
- Severe chest pain, also described as discomfort, pressure, squeezing, or heaviness.
- Pain or discomfort that radiates to the back, jaw, throat, or arm.
- Discomfort in the upper abdomen that is often mistaken for heartburn.
- Sweating, nausea, and vomiting.
- Difficulty breathing, palpitations, dizziness, and fainting.
- Weakness, numbness, and anxiety.
Symptoms of a stroke or TIA include:
- Numbness, weakness, or paralysis of the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body.
- Vision problems in one or both eyes, such as double vision or loss of vision.
- Confusion, trouble speaking or understanding.
- Trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination.
- Severe headache.
Call your health professional for an appointment if you:
- Think you may have diabetes.
- Have family members who have high cholesterol, coronary artery disease (CAD), or diabetes.
- Are concerned about your cholesterol.
Who to See
Any one of the following doctors, nurses, or specialists can order a cholesterol test and treat high cholesterol:
- Nurse practitioner (NP)
- Physician assistant (PA)
- Family medicine doctor
- Internal medicine doctor
- Cardiologist
- Endocrinologist
A registered dietitian can help you with a diet to lower your cholesterol.
People who have rare lipid disorders, which can be more difficult to treat, may need to see a specialist, often an endocrinologist.
You may need to see a cardiologist if you are diagnosed with heart disease.
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| Author: | Ralph Poore | Last Updated: July 20, 2006 |
| Medical Review: | Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine Neil J. Stone, MD, FACC, FACP - Internal Medicine, Cardiology | |
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