High Cholesterol Care in Troy, MI
Duraid Ahad-Daman, MD
Family Medicine located in Troy, MI
Understand your cholesterol and take steps to protect your heart. Dr. Duraid Ahad-Daman provides cholesterol evaluation, treatment, and follow-up at Ahad MD PC in Troy, Michigan.
A personalized plan starts with your results, your health history, and your goals.
Cholesterol care focused on long-term heart health
Understand your results and your risk
High cholesterol usually has no symptoms. A blood test helps identify a problem before it contributes to a heart attack or stroke. Your treatment plan should consider your overall health, not just one number.
What does a cholesterol test measure?
| Result | What it tells us |
|---|---|
| LDL cholesterol | Can contribute to plaque in arteries. Lowering LDL is a main focus of treatment. |
| HDL cholesterol | Helps transport cholesterol to the liver. It is part of your risk assessment, not a treatment target on its own. |
| Triglycerides | Another type of blood fat. High levels can add to cardiovascular risk; very high levels can also increase the risk of pancreatitis. |
| Total and non-HDL cholesterol | Total cholesterol gives an overview. Non-HDL is total cholesterol minus HDL and captures cholesterol carried by particles that can contribute to plaque. |
Why can cholesterol be high?
Inherited traits, eating patterns, activity, and certain health conditions all play a role. High cholesterol can occur even in people who eat well and have a healthy weight. A family history of very high cholesterol or early heart disease is important to discuss.
What should my LDL goal be?
There is no single goal for everyone. Your age, blood pressure, smoking history, diabetes, kidney health, family history, and any previous heart attack or stroke help guide the decision. Some people have a goal below 100 mg/dL; people at higher risk may need a goal below 70 or 55 mg/dL.
For eligible adults without known cardiovascular disease, a risk calculator can help inform treatment. Your clinician combines this estimate with your history and preferences.
Lipoprotein(a): A new frontier in cardiovascular disease prevention
A standard cholesterol panel does not tell the whole story. Lipoprotein(a), or Lp(a), is a largely inherited cholesterol-carrying particle that can increase cardiovascular risk—even when routine cholesterol results look reassuring. It is measured with a separate blood test.
Current guidelines recommend testing Lp(a) at least once in adulthood. The result helps us refine your risk assessment alongside LDL cholesterol, blood pressure, diabetes, smoking, and family history.
How can the result change your care?
- Identify additional inherited risk: An elevated result can reveal risk that a standard lipid panel may miss.
- Personalize prevention: Higher Lp(a) may support more intensive LDL lowering and closer attention to other modifiable risk factors.
- Inform family screening: Close relatives may benefit from testing when your level is high.
High Lp(a) does not mean a heart attack or stroke is inevitable. Healthy habits remain important, even though they usually have little effect on Lp(a) itself. Testing helps guide prevention; it does not diagnose an artery blockage.
Ask about Lp(a) testing at your next cholesterol review at Ahad MD PC.
Would other testing help?
Apolipoprotein B (ApoB) testing may help selected patients. A coronary artery calcium scan may be considered when the decision about medication remains uncertain. These tests are discussed according to your situation; not everyone needs a scan or an expanded panel.
Practical changes that support heart health
- Choose vegetables, fruit, beans, oats, whole grains, nuts, and other fiber-rich foods.
- Replace sources of saturated fat, such as butter and fatty meats, with unsaturated fats from foods such as olive oil, nuts, and fish.
- Build regular physical activity into your week and work toward a healthy weight when appropriate.
- Avoid tobacco. If triglycerides are elevated, discuss alcohol and added sugars as part of your plan.
When is medication helpful?
Statins are often the first choice when medication is needed to lower LDL and reduce cardiovascular risk. Healthy habits remain important, but they may not be enough on their own.
When additional lowering is needed or a statin is not tolerated, options may include ezetimibe, bempedoic acid, or certain injectable medicines. The choice depends on your risk, response, side effects, and coverage.
Over-the-counter fish oil and other supplements do not replace prescribed cholesterol treatment. Prescription omega-3 medicines have specific uses for selected patients and differ from store-bought supplements.
Follow-up that keeps your plan on track
Repeat blood tests help assess your response and guide adjustments. Report side effects so we can review your options rather than stopping treatment on your own. Tell your clinician if you are pregnant, planning pregnancy, or breastfeeding, because medication choices may need to change.
Schedule a cholesterol review
Bring recent lab results, your medication and supplement list, and any family history of early heart disease. Dr. Duraid Ahad-Daman can help you understand your results and choose the next steps at Ahad MD PC in Troy.
Trusted information and guidelines
- American Heart Association: Lipoprotein(a) and inherited cardiovascular risk
- CDC: About cholesterol
- American Heart Association: Understanding cholesterol and lipids
- American Heart Association: Cholesterol-lowering medications
- 2026 ACC/AHA guideline on the management of dyslipidemia
Links open in a new tab. Patient information updated September 22, 2026. Treatment is individualized.
Insurance Accepted
Dr. Ahad-Daman accepts most major insurance providers. Please contact your insurance provider directly for any coverage-related questions.
