High Cholesterol

An important cause of heart attack, heart disease, and stroke

Get in depth, cholesterol care from a true specialist. Dr Harkin is both a cardiologist and a lipidologist - a board certified cholesterol specialist doctor.

She diagnoses, manages, and treats issues with LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, apolipoprotein B (apoB), and lipoprotein (a).

Cholesterol specialists are certified by the American Board of Clinical Lipidology (ABCL). To date, just over 700 doctors have achieved certification in Clinical Lipidology. Many of them are not cardiologists.

Dr Harkin will help to identify the underlying cause of cholesterol issues and recommend specific treatment, including lifestyle therapy. She uses medications when appropriate.

Examples of reasons people see Dr Harkin, a cholesterol specialist

  • Elevated LDL cholesterol or apolipoprotein B

  • Elevated lipoprotein (a)

  • Side effects from cholesterol medicines like statins

  • High triglycerides

  • Low HDL cholesterol

  • Not at goal cholesterol levels with initial treatment

  • Interested in advanced lipid testing and interpretation

  • Aggressive lipid control for heart disease prevention and reversal

Cholesterol is an artery clogging substance that is made by your liver. It’s packaged in vehicles called lipoproteins that float around in our bloodstream. While we need some amount of cholesterol for hormone synthesis and other bodily functions, too much cholesterol is bad because it can build up in your arteries to form blockages (called plaque), which can lead to heart attacks, strokes, and other complications.

Given that it is the causative factor in the development of atherosclerosis, Dr Harkin is quite aggressive in the treatment of cholesterol disorders. She uses in depth cholesterol tests, such as apoB and advanced lipid panels, to better understand your actual atherogenic burden.

While elevated cholesterol is sometimes related to genetics, it is also often mediated by lifestyle, particularly diet. Dr Harkin works closely with her patients to lower their cholesterol with diet, supplements, and medications when indicated.