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Define Hyperlipidemia

Elevated levels of cholesterol, cholesterol compounds or esters, phospholipids and triglycerides, all blood lipids, lead to the condition known as hyperlipidemia. High levels of lipids in the blood can lead to very serious medical conditions. There are no symptoms associated with hyperlipidemia itself, but health problems caused by the condition do have symptoms that point to a hyperlipidemia diagnosis. Another name for the condition is hyperlipoproteinemia. The reason for this name is that lipids travel in the blood attached to proteins.

  1. Types

    • The two categories for hyperlipidemia are hypercholesterolemia, which means a high level of cholesterol is present in the blood, and hypertriglyceridemia, which means there is an excess level of triglycerides in the blood.

    Complications

    • Dangerous complications associated with hyperlipidemia include atherosclerosis or hardening of the arteries, heart attack, stroke and heart disease. Those with higher levels of low-density cholesterol (LDL) and people with lower levels or high-density cholesterol (HDL) are at greater risk of developing coronary heart disease. High triglyceride levels often coincide with low HDL levels, which again increase the risk of heart disease.

    Associated Conditions and Risk Factors

    • Medical conditions associated with hyperlipidemia include hypothyroidism, diabetes, pregnancy, kidney failure, alcoholism, obesity and high blood pressure. Smoking, family history and some prescription medications also increase the risk of developing hyperlipidemia.

    Diagnosis

    • A physician will do blood tests to check triglyceride and lipoprotein levels in the blood to determine a diagnosis of hyperlipidemia. The five lipoproteins associated with hyperlipidemia that will be evaluated are low-density lipoproteins (LDL), very low-density lipoproteins (VLDL), chylomicrons, intermediate-density lipoproteins (IDL) and high-density lipoproteins (HDL).

    Blood Levels

    • Low heart disease risk is accomplished with a low-density lipoprotein (LDL) level less than 130 mg/dl, a high-density lipoprotein (HDL) level more than 40 mg/dl, triglycerides no higher than 200 mg/dl and total cholesterol levels under 200. Some physician's want total cholesterol and triglyceride numbers even lower to ensure optimal health.

    Self-Help

    • Self-help options for treating hyperlipidemia include lifestyle changes such as reducing saturated fat levels to less than 7 percent of total calories, reducing amount of total fat in the diet to less than 35 grams a day and getting less than 200 mg of cholesterol in the diet daily. Increasing fiber to 20 to 30 grams a day, and increasing the amount of plant stanols and sterols from nuts, corn, rice and vegetable oil up to 3 grams daily are ways to help with hyperlipidemia at home. Eating other heart healthy foods, stopping smoking, exercising and weight loss will also improve lipid levels.

    Treatment

    • Along with lifestyle changes, medications such as statins to stop the liver from producing cholesterol, bile acid sequestrants to keep the body from reabsorbing cholesterol in the bile, vitamin B5 (niacin) and fibrates are also prescribed to help with hyperlipidemia. Underlying medical conditions associated with hyperlipidemia should also be brought under control to reduce lipid levels.

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