Hyperlipidemia Prevention

Hyperlipidemia is a condition characterized by a high level of lipids, namely cholesterol and triglycerides, in the bloodstream. Lifestyle is its most common cause, but you may also suffer from this condition as a complication of diabetes, hypothyroidism or kidney disease. As lipid levels rise, there is a greater potential for the accumulation of fatty deposits along the arterial wall. This often prompts a narrowing or hardening of the arteries, putting you at a greater risk of heart attack or stroke. To prevent the development of this condition, most people respond well to a combination of personal and medicinal measures.

Self-Care Prevention

• For most cases of hyperlipidemia, doctors commonly recommend a healthier lifestyle, so start off with a change in your eating habits. By paying close attention to your intake of fat and dietary cholesterol as well as incorporating more nutritious foods into your diet, you can make quite an impact on the lipid levels in your blood.

  Try to keep your total fat intake to anywhere between 25 and 35 percent of your total calories each day. Your saturated fat intake should also be reduced to no more than 7 to 10 percent of your daily calories and avoid all "trans" fat if possible. With your dietary cholesterol, keep your intake to less than 200 mg per day, but you should also see an improvement with 300 mg.

  As you reduce or limit your intake of fat and dietary cholesterol, incorporate healthier food options into your diet. Fruits, vegetables and whole grains are by far your best options, but you should also include low-fat dairy, lean meats, fish containing omega-3 fatty acid, tofu, tempeh, soy and certain nuts to ensure proper nutrition. Along with these dietary changes, increase your intake of foods rich in both fiber and plant stanols or sterols. These substances are considered "heart healthy" foods and can go a long way in reducing your cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

  While a change in diet can really help get your lipid levels in check, integrate some exercise into your daily life. Thirty to sixty minutes of exercise with some regularity can often reduce your weight and cholesterol. Walking and biking are great options, especially if you're new to the world of fitness, but jogging, swimming and other sports can not only improve your health, but also add variety to your daily workout.

Medical Prevention

• If your lifestyle changes aren't enough to reduce your levels of cholesterol or triglycerides, you'll need to seek out other options to prevent hyperlipidemia. Most of these include some sort of medication and depend on what lipids are causing your condition.

  For cholesterol, statins are the most common medication used, but your doctor may put you on a cholesterol absorption inhibitor or bile-acid-binding resin. Both substances reduce the level of cholesterol in your blood by increasing its absorption rate within either the intestines or liver, respectively. For triglycerides, a supplement of niacin or fibrate (or a combination of the two) is used to increase the elimination of triglycerides in the blood.