Why I Took My
Cholesterol Personally
A personal journey that reminded me—and my patients—that prevention is not about perfection. It’s about progress.
Why This Became Personal
As a physician, I spend a lot of time helping patients reduce their risk of heart disease. But several years ago, I realized I needed to take a closer look at my own risk as well.
I am a physician of South Asian descent with a family history that is difficult to ignore. My father has type II diabetes, has undergone multiple coronary stent procedures, and lives with a single kidney. His brother—my uncle—passed away from a heart attack at the age of forty-five.
Despite that history, I considered myself relatively healthy. I exercised regularly, lifted weights four to five times per week, and maintained an active lifestyle.
Growing up, cardiovascular disease was never an abstract concept discussed in a textbook. It was something I witnessed firsthand within my own family.
The First Wake-Up Call
Then my lab results gave me pause. In September 2024, my cholesterol profile showed a picture I could not explain away:
My HDL was excellent, likely reflecting years of consistent resistance training. But my LDL remained elevated—particularly worrying given my family history.
I spoke with several cardiologists. Their recommendation was straightforward: start a statin. While I understood the rationale, I wanted to see what I could accomplish through lifestyle changes first.
The Setback
At the time, I believed I was already eating relatively well. I reduced carbohydrates and tried to make healthier choices when possible. But as a traveling physician working in rural communities, healthy options were often limited. Long shifts, hotel stays, and fast-food restaurants made consistency difficult.
Ten months later, I repeated my blood work—and took a closer look at what I was actually doing rather than what I thought I was doing.
I was not trying to prove I did not need a statin. I wanted to know whether I had truly done everything I could first.
What I Changed
Instead of focusing primarily on reducing carbohydrates, I shifted my attention toward proven cardiovascular habits:
- Increasing daily fiber intake
- Replacing saturated fats with healthier unsaturated fats, like olive oil
- Choosing cooking methods that reduced unnecessary added fats
- Incorporating regular running alongside resistance training
- Being more intentional about food choices while traveling
The goal was not perfection.
The goal was consistency.
The Results
Three to four months later, my cholesterol profile looked very different:
Looking Beyond Cholesterol
To better understand my cardiovascular risk, I also underwent additional testing. Three advanced markers all returned within normal ranges.
While these results were reassuring, they did not change the importance of maintaining healthy habits.
The Lesson
Lifestyle changes work best when they are specific, measurable, and sustainable.
This story is not meant to suggest that everyone can avoid medication. Many people benefit tremendously from statins, and for some patients they are absolutely the right choice. In fact, I may still require medication in the future depending on how my risk profile evolves.
For me, the answer was not a dramatic diet overhaul. It was increasing fiber, choosing healthier fats, improving consistency, and adding cardiovascular exercise to an already active lifestyle.
As physicians, we often tell patients that prevention matters. As patients, we sometimes forget how difficult prevention can be in the real world—meaningful change happens through small decisions repeated day after day. That perspective continues to shape how I care for my patients at Saker Concierge Clinic.
Prevention is not about achieving perfection.
It is about making progress.
— Dr. Erfanul Saker, Saker Concierge Clinic