In the latest episode of the To Your Health podcast, Jefferson Healthcare’s Pharmacy Operations Manager, Kylie Gordash, provides insights on how you can manage cholesterol and weight.
May 14, 2025
When it comes to heart health, cholesterol and weight play crucial roles. In a recent episode of the To Your Health podcast, Jefferson Healthcare’s Pharmacy Operations Manager, Kylie Gordash, sat down with us to talk about how these two risk factors affect our vascular system — and how we can manage them through lifestyle changes and medication.
“Cholesterol is one of the risk factors for developing heart disease,” explained Gordash. “Over time, if you have high cholesterol, that inevitably can lead to plaque buildup in the arteries, which can result in cardiovascular disease.”
But not all cholesterol is bad. Gordash emphasized that cholesterol is also essential for several important functions in the body. “It often gets villainized,” he says, “but what a lot of people don’t realize is that cholesterol is an essential building block for things like bile salts, hormones, and even vitamin D.”
The key is balance — keeping cholesterol in the right range through regular monitoring and, if necessary, medical intervention.
Gordash shared several practical lifestyle changes that can help manage both weight and cholesterol levels:
These simple steps can lead to meaningful long-term benefits for heart and vascular health.
For those who need additional help, medications are a safe and effective option. The most commonly prescribed drugs for high cholesterol are statins, which work by reducing cholesterol production in the liver.
“There are also newer options like ezetimibe, which reduces cholesterol absorption from food,” Gordash said. For more complex cases, injectable medications known as PCSK9 inhibitors may be used, though they are typically reserved for specific situations due to their cost and complexity.
As for weight management, Gordash noted that medications are usually considered when a person’s body mass index (BMI) reaches a certain threshold, typically over 30, or over 27 if additional medical conditions like diabetes are present.
One of the challenges with high cholesterol and blood pressure is that they are often symptomless. “They’ve been referred to as silent killers,” Gordash said. “You don’t usually notice a problem until a major cardiovascular event occurs.”
That’s why regular checkups, annual lab work, and open conversations with your healthcare provider are essential, especially as you age.
Jefferson Healthcare is an award-winning, full-service healthcare organization meeting the care needs of East Jefferson County. Jefferson Healthcare offers inpatient and comprehensive outpatient services including primary and specialty physician care.
