Jason Morda, MD, is an Inova cardiologist who is board certified in internal medicine and cardiovascular disease. He practices in the Inova Cardiology offices located in Alexandria, Springfield-Franconia, Mount Vernon and Woodbridge. He attended medical school at the University of Virginia and did his residency at University Hospitals of Cleveland. He also completed his fellowship in cardiology and cardiovascular disease at University of Michigan. Dr. Morda joined Inova in 2015 after practicing in Northern Virginia, which he has done since 2008.
Most of what we hear about cholesterol is bad news. That’s because high cholesterol levels in your blood can contribute to heart disease, which kills more Americans than all cancers combined. But your body actually needs a certain amount of cholesterol.
Cholesterol is a waxy, fatlike substance that is mainly produced by the liver. It is used to make certain hormones, like estrogen and testosterone, as well as vitamin D and bile acids, which help digest fat. Cholesterol also is used to build healthy cell membranes in the brain, nerves, muscles, skin, liver, intestines and heart. But it only takes a small amount of cholesterol to meet these needs.
Too much of the wrong kind of cholesterol can put your health at risk – which is why you don’t want to add too much cholesterol to your diet. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that about 38 percent of adults in the United States have high cholesterol levels.
When you have too much cholesterol in your blood, the excess contributes to plaque deposits in the lining of the arteries, including the ones that feed your heart. These deposits narrow the arteries and reduce blood flow (a condition known as atherosclerosis), which can lead to heart disease, heart attack and stroke (when occurring in the brain). About 80 percent of people who have a heart attack have high cholesterol.
High blood cholesterol does not cause symptoms but can be identified by a simple blood test ordered by your doctor. The American Heart Association recommends all adults over age 20 have their cholesterol levels checked every four to six years.
Cholesterol moves through your body inside substances called lipoproteins, which are made from fat and proteins. A blood test, which is usually done after fasting, will measure:
When it comes to the numbers, it’s important to remember that there is no “one size fits all.” That’s why we prefer to deemphasize the numbers and, instead, focus on a more holistic approach to identify those at highest risk for cardiovascular disease. While the numbers are important, they are not hard and fast dividing lines in most people. Your target numbers depend on your risk profile, which includes your family history, medical history and lifestyle. People at higher risk for heart disease and stroke have lower targets.
In general, we recommend cholesterol-lowering medications for people with an LDL above 190 who have failed to lower their cholesterol with diet and exercise. But, for example, if you have diabetes, we are very aggressive about prescribing medication if your LDL is above 70. The risk factors we consider include:
To schedule an appointment with an Inova cardiologist, call 877.634.6682.
Inova Schar Heart and Vascular’s Structural Heart/Valve Disease Program was among the top enrollers in…
The Peterson Family Fairfax, VA, April 16, 2024 – Inova today announced a transformational gift…
Lauren Trahan, MS, RD is a Registered Dietitian. She serves patients in Inova Cardiac and…
Ivan Harnden, MD is a board-certified gastroenterologist. He serves as the System Chief of Gastroenterology…
Shawn Davis-Wilensky, MD is a board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist. She practices at Inova Saville Screening and Prevention…
Inova Schar Cancer is one of the top recruiting locations for the EMBER-4 clinical trial,…