Lipids are a class of chemical compounds that include cholesterol and triglycerides.

Cholesterol is a lipid molecule made by animals and humans that is used by the body to make cell walls, steroid hormones, vitamin D and bile. Some cholesterol is essential for normal body function but when it becomes elevated it can lead to hardening of the arteries (also known as atherosclerosis) which over time can cause heart attacks and strokes.

The body carries cholesterol in different ways. LDL (the "bad" cholesterol) is the cholesterol made in the liver that is carried to the artery walls leading to atherosclerosis. HDL (the "good" cholesterol) is the cholesterol that is being removed from the artery wall and carried back to the liver to be excreted, a process known as reverse transport.

High cholesterol and triglycerides are the main causes of heart attacks and strokes. Many medical studies have shown that treatments that lower cholesterol and triglycerides reduce a patients risk for heart attack and stroke by as much as 90%.

Diet and lifestyle changes are the cornerstone of cholesterol and triglyceride treatment. LDL cholesterol can be reduced by as much as 50% and triglycerides by as much as 80% with a proper diet. Increased physical activity is the best way to raise HDL and also helps to lower blood pressure and improve sugar control in diabetics. These are the reasons why Dr. Ziajka insists that all patients need to be seen and evaluated by a dietitian as part of their overall treatment plan.

Dr. Ziajka is a board certified Clinical Lipidologist with special training in the evaluation and treatment of complex cholesterol and triglyceride issues. Our dietitian also specializes in the care of lipid patients. Our practice has access to advanced laboratory tests unfamiliar to most primary care doctors and cardiologists. Our institute also has an active clinical research program that allows us to offer patients therapeutic options before they become available to the general medical community.

Following an initial consultation and review of recent laboratory blood work, you'll likely be started on medication. You'll be seen again about 4 weeks later after having had another blood test. (In the interim you'll be scheduled for a one-hour consultation with our dietician who will help address dietary and lifestyle changes you can make to improve your health.) If you are not experiencing any problems and the medication is working to address your particular needs you'll only have to see us again in six months and then yearly thereafter.

There are a number of medications on the market now and they work in different ways. Some work in the stomach; some in the liver. Some prevent your body from making cholesterol; some prevent your body from absorbing it. Some medications are stored in the fat; some aren't. The key is to find the right medication, or combinations of medications, that work for you. Also, diet and lifestyle are important components of effective treatment and we address these as well.

The two broad categories of lipid disorders treated by Dr. Ziajka are the over-production of "bad" lipids (high LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, IDL cholesterol and/or Lp(a)) and the under-production of "good" cholesterol (low HDL cholesterol).

There are a number of ways to lower the "bad" LDL cholesterol that don't involve statins, including diet and lifestyle, alternate prescription medication classes and over the counter supplements. Dr. Ziajka will discuss these options with you during your office visit.

LDL cholesterol and triglyceride goals are set by National Cholesterol Education Program, part of the Nation Institutes of Health. The presence or absence of vascular disease, presence of various risk factors (like high blood pressure, family history, etc.) and the results of advanced lipid laboratories are used to determine an individual's treatment goals.  More information can be found on our "Links" page under nhlbi.nih.gove/about/ncep/.

Cholesterol and triglyceride disorders are lifelong problems that require lifelong treatment. Occasionally, when a patient makes a committed effort on diet and lifestyle the medications can be reduced or even stopped.

All the web sites listed on our Links page offer accurate, up to date information about cholesterol, triglycerides and cardiovascular disease.

We see patients on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 8-3. Usually we can schedule a new patient within a week. Please make sure you bring any recent blood test results, your insurance card and your driver's license.

If you have Medicare, or an HMO or a POS plan with which we are contracted, you will need a written prescription from your primary care physician.If you do not have such a prescription your insurance company will not pay for an unauthorized visit.If you are a self-pay patient you do not need a prescription.

Yes.Immediately after your initial visit, we send the referring physician a copy of our office notes.

Assuming you are up to date on your follow-up visits and your lab work we require 48 hours notice in order for the prescription to be refilled.

• Any recent blood test results
• Referral authorization from your primary care provider, if not a self-pay patient
• Driver’s license or other photo identification
• Insurance card, if not a self-pay patient
• Patient intake forms (see three online forms)
• Cash, check or money order for any payments due

For an initial evaluation, plan on 20 minutes. Follow-up appointments are 10 minutes. We pride ourselves on keeping on schedule so you rarely have to wait beyond your appointment time.

2828 Casa Aloma Way, Suite 600
Winter Park, FL 32792
407-671-8598 (phone)
407-671-8698 (fax)
Please click here to view our map and directions.

No, only cash, check or money order. We will file insurance forms but any co-pays and uncovered charges are due at the time of service.

Our charges depend on a number of factors, but our initial visit/consultation charge generally ranges from $200-$300. Follow-up visits range from $110-$140. There is a discount for self-pay patients.

Yes. An unfilled appointment is a lost chance to help another patient, so if you are unable to keep your scheduled time we request 24 hours advance notice. Our office policy is to charge $25 for failure to cancel an appointment. Emergencies will be considered on a case-by-case basis for waiver of this fee.

It is not unusual for an individual to be covered by two insurance plans. For example, you might have Medicare as a primary insurance company and a secondary insurance company to cover those amounts not paid for by Medicare. We will bill all primary insurance companies on your behalf. As a courtesy, we usually then will bill your secondary insurance carrier. However, some secondary insurance companies do not provide information or payment directly to us. In that case, we will not bill them but will look to you for remainder payments. We then provide a receipt for you to use to seek reimbursement under your particular plan.

Co-payments are determined by your insurance company. If one is due, it will be collected at the time you are seen. We will provide a receipt if requested. Please note we do not accept credit or debit cards.

Call your insurance company member services (the number is usually on the back of your insurance card ) and give them Dr. Ziajka's name and address.

We will be happy to see you as a self-pay patient. You would be responsible for all charges but we would give you a receipt you could submit to your insurance company for credit toward any out-of-network deductible. Additionally, you might be eligible for out-of-network benefits. Your insurance company can explain this benefit in greater detail but usually it involves your primary doctor providing information to your insurance company explaining why it is medically necessary for you to see Dr. Ziajka specifically. If your insurance company agrees, the company will pay a percentage of your out-of-pocket expenses.