Hyperlipidemia
Description
Hyperlipidemia means having high levels of cholesterol. Elevated levels of cholesterol in the blood increases the risk of having narrowed arteries. The blockage is caused by a build of plaque and fat deposits (atherosclerosis). The diseases caused by this narrowing are dependent on the arteries being blocked but include: heart attacks, strokes, and peripheral vascular disease. Having elevated cholesterol has also been shown to lead to high blood pressure and diabetes. There are two types of cholesterol that make up the total level of cholesterol, LDL and HDL. LDL is considered bad cholesterol and HDL is good cholesterol. To know a patient's true risk of disease the provider must send a blood test that measures both LDL and HDL. In general the LDL should be less than 130 mg/dL and anything greater than 160 mg/dL is considered too high. A HDL level greater than 60 mg/dL is best. A patient's cholesterol level is a combination of what they inherit from their parents and what they eat. Improving one's diet and/or medications can generally reduce the levels.
Symptoms
There are usually no symptoms related to having elevated cholesterol.
Tests
A history and physical exam will be done. Blood levels will be done to measure total cholesterol, LDL and HDL. A triglyceride level is usually checked as well.
Treatment
Treatment depends on how high the LDL level is and if other risk factors for developing blockage of the arteries (atherosclerosis) are present. Eating healthy foods, exercising more, and losing weight can improve mild elevations of cholesterol. Other treatments include medications such as statins (atorvastatin/Lipitor, fluvastatin/Lescol, lovastatin/Altocor or Mevacor, pravastatin/Pravachol, rosuvastatin/Crestor, simvastatin/Zocor), bile acid binding drugs (cholestyramine/Prevalite or Questran, colesevelam/Welchol, colestipol/Colestid), cholesterol absorption inhibitors (ezetimibe/Zetia) and combination drugs (ezetimibe-simvastatin/Vytorin).
Related Videos
Share Your Experience
Do you have experience with this disease? Do you or someone
you know suffer from Hyperlipidemia?
Please share you experience with other members of the iTriage community.