High cholesterol has no symptoms. Most people find out from a routine lipid panel, and by then plaque may already be building in the arteries. At Be or Become in Whitinsville, Ehab Zekri, FNP manages high cholesterol as part of primary care for patients across the Blackstone Valley: a full lipid panel, a look at what’s driving your numbers, and a plan that fits your actual risk, not a one-size target.
What your numbers mean
A lipid panel measures total cholesterol, LDL (“bad”), HDL (“good”), and triglycerides. General targets are LDL under 100, HDL above 60, and total under 200, but the right goal for you depends on your age, blood pressure, diabetes status, family history, and whether you’ve had a heart event. Two people with the same LDL can need very different treatment.
How we lower cholesterol
Diet changes
Less saturated fat, more fiber, changes you can keep
Activity
Regular movement raises HDL and lowers triglycerides
Weight & blood sugar
Treating insulin resistance often improves lipids
Medication when needed
Statins and other options based on your risk
High cholesterol care at Be or Become
At your first visit we order a full lipid panel plus A1C and thyroid labs, since both can push cholesterol up. We calculate your cardiovascular risk, go through the results with you, and decide together whether lifestyle alone is enough or medication makes sense. If you’re already on a statin, bring your medication list and recent labs and we’ll take over from there. Repeat labs every 3–6 months until you’re stable, then yearly. We accept BCBS, Tufts, Mass General Brigham, Medicare, MassHealth, and most major plans.
Ready to get started?
Accepting new patients from Whitinsville, Northbridge, and surrounding towns.