Hyperlipidemia (High Cholesterol)
Hyperlipidemia refers to elevated levels of cholesterol or triglycerides in the blood, which silently increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, and peripheral artery disease. Because it causes no symptoms, many patients only learn they have high cholesterol after routine screening or a cardiac event.
At The Medical Group of New Jersey, our internal medicine specialists emphasize early detection, personalized treatment, and long-term risk reduction through evidence-based care and lifestyle management.
Symptom Onset & Initial Evaluation
Hyperlipidemia typically causes no symptoms and is most often detected during a routine physical exam or preventive blood work. Because elevated cholesterol silently contributes to plaque buildup in the arteries, early diagnosis is critical to preventing heart attack and stroke.
Your internist at The Medical Group of New Jersey will:
- Review your personal and family history of heart disease or stroke.
- Assess lifestyle factors such as diet, exercise, and smoking habits.
- Evaluate for coexisting metabolic conditions like Diabetes Mellitus, Hypertension, or Obesity.
- Discuss any history of chest pain, shortness of breath, or leg discomfort with exertion, which may suggest vascular disease.
A simple lipid panel helps establish your baseline cholesterol and triglyceride levels and guides treatment to protect your cardiovascular health.
Diagnosis & Risk Stratification
Diagnosis of hyperlipidemia is made through a fasting or non-fasting lipid panel, which measures several key markers of cardiovascular health:
- Total cholesterol
- LDL (“bad”) cholesterol: the main driver of plaque buildup
- HDL (“good”) cholesterol: helps remove excess cholesterol
- Triglycerides: high levels can increase risk for pancreatitis
Your internist uses these results to calculate your 10-year atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk score, which estimates the likelihood of a heart attack or stroke.
For patients with additional risk factors, such as Diabetes Mellitus, Hypertension, Obesity, or a strong family history, more advanced testing may be ordered, including:
- Coronary calcium scoring to detect early plaque buildup
- Apolipoprotein B or Lipoprotein(a) for hereditary lipid disorders
This information allows your care team to design a personalized cholesterol management plan that targets both prevention and long-term heart protection.
Treatment & Long-Term Management
Treatment at The Medical Group of New Jersey focuses on lowering cholesterol levels and preventing cardiovascular events.
Lifestyle Optimization
- Heart-healthy diet: Emphasize fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and omega-3-rich foods.
- Exercise: Regular aerobic activity raises HDL and lowers LDL cholesterol.
- Weight control: Especially for those with Obesity or Diabetes Mellitus.
- Smoking cessation and moderate alcohol intake improve vascular health.
Medication Therapy
- If lifestyle efforts are insufficient, statins remain first-line to reduce LDL and plaque progression.
- Ezetimibe or PCSK9 inhibitors for additional LDL lowering.
- Fibrates or omega-3 supplements for high triglycerides.
Your MGNJ internist individualizes targets using the 10-year ASCVD risk score and may coordinate with Cardiology for complex lipid disorders.
Monitoring & Follow-Up
Once therapy begins, your internist will:
- Recheck lipid levels 4–12 weeks after medication changes, then every 6–12 months.
- Monitor for side effects such as muscle aches or liver enzyme changes.
- Evaluate blood pressure, blood sugar, and weight at each visit for comprehensive cardiovascular prevention.
Patients with significant plaque buildup or strong family history may also be referred to our Cardiology team for advanced management.
Prognosis & Preventive Care
Most patients respond well to a combination of diet, exercise, and medication. When cholesterol levels are brought within target ranges, cardiovascular risk can drop by more than 30%.
Ongoing collaboration with your internist at The Medical Group of New Jersey ensures that lipid control remains stable and other conditions—such as Diabetes Mellitus, Hypertension, and obesity—are managed simultaneously for optimal outcomes.
Preventive measures such as Preventive Health Screenings and annual wellness visits further support long-term protection and health.