Hyperlipidemia

Description

Cholesterol is a type of fat in the blood that is essential for normal functioning of the cells, nerves, and hormones, but if it exceeds the normal limits it becomes harmful. Increased level of cholesterol in the body is known as hyperlipidemia.

Following are the different types of cholesterol in our body:

LDL (low-density lipoprotein): It is the bad kind of cholesterol that carries and deposits the fat along the walls of arteries causing them to become hard and narrower.
HDL (high-density lipoprotein): It is the good kind of cholesterol that carries the extra fat to the liver without depositing them along the walls of the arteries. It helps lower the risk of heart attacks.
Triglycerides: It stores and transports fat in the blood. Excess calories (especially sugar and alcohol) are stored this way.

Hyperlipidemia or hyperlipoproteinemia is a very common disorder characterized by abnormally increased levels of lipoproteins or lipids in the blood. Lipoproteins are molecules made up of lipids and proteins. The two common types of lipids are triglycerides and cholesterol, therefore; it is also commonly called hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia. It is a major risk factor for heart diseases. It has two subtypes:

Primary or familial hyperlipidemia
Secondary or acquired hyperlipidemia.

Causes

Primary hyperlipidemia:

Primary hyperlipidemia or familial hyperlipidemia results from genetic abnormalities. It runs in families; you may have it if your parents or siblings have it.

Secondary hyperlipidemia:

Secondary hyperlipidemia or acquires hyperlipidemia is caused by:

Diet rich in cholesterol and fats
Sedentary lifestyle
Medicines such as thiazides, beta-blockers, and estrogen
Hypothyroidism
Pregnancy
Kidney disease
Alcohol abuse

Risk factors

PREVENTABLE:

Smoking
Alcohol
Unhealthy diet (eating foods such as full-fat dairy products, meat and processed food)
Sedentary lifestyle (lack of physical exercise)

NON PREVENTABLE:

Hypertension (high blood pressure)
Diabetes
Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid gland)
Polycystic ovarian disease
Pregnancy

Symptoms

Hyperlipidemia usually presents with no signs and symptoms but puts you at a greater risk of developing other medical illnesses:

High blood pressure (fat starts to build up along the walls of the arteries which causes them to become narrower that might shoot up the blood pressure)
Heart attack (fat build-up may form a blood clot that might travel to the heart and cause a heart attack)
Stroke
Diabetes
Xanthelasma (in rare cases high cholesterol may start getting deposited around eyes)

Diagnosis

To reach a diagnosis, your doctor will ask for your complete medical history and perform a simple physical exam. To confirm the diagnosis your doctor will recommend blood test called lipid profile for levels of:

LDL or bad cholesterol
HDL or good cholesterol
Total cholesterol
Triglycerides

Management

The goal of management is to maintain normal lipid values to avoid risk of heart diseases. It includes:

Lifestyle modification: Your doctor will recommend you to follow a strict diet, avoid alcohol, quit smoking, and add exercise to your daily routine.

Medicines:

Statins (lipid-lowering medicines): Atorvastatin, fluvastatin, lovastatin, pitavastatin, pravastatin, and rosuvastatin
Cholestyramine and colestipol
Gemfibrozil, fenoglide, and triglide
Niacin
Asezetimibe.

When to consult a doctor?

A medical professional should be consulted right away if one feels a sudden chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, numbness, slurred speech and difficulty in walking.