Strong Heart and Vascular Center
Division of Vascular Surgery
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Hyperlipidemia
What is Hyperlipidemia?
Hyperlipidemia refers to several conditions in which high amounts
of lipids (fats) are present in the bloodstream. Hyperlipidemia
can be caused by genetics, lifestyle, or a combination of the
two and is contributing factor in atherosclerosis.
Types of lipids in the blood
High density lipoproteins (HDL) - Often called “good
cholesterol,” HDL picks up excess cholesterol in the
blood and carries it back to the liver, where it is broken
down and removed from the body.
Low density lipoproteins
(LDL) - LDL carries cholesterol and deposits
it in
body tissues to be used for cell repair or for energy. Often
called “bad
cholesterol,” high levels of LDL circulating
in the blood may increase the risk of heart disease.
Very low density lipoproteins (VLDL) - High
levels of VLDL in the blood may mean that there is too much
triglyceride in the body, which is associated with heart disease
and low levels of HDL.
Types of Hyperlipidemia Conditions
High cholesterol - levels of the harmful
LDL carrier of cholesterol are more than 130 milligrams per deciliter
(mg/dL).
Dyslipidemic syndrome - a group of risk factors
that increases the risk of developing CHD.
Dyslipidemic syndrome is identified by the presence of three
or more of the following symptoms:
Primary elevated triglycerides - in this condition,
LDL cholesterol may be normal, the HDL cholesterol is often
low, and the triglyceride level is high, often as high
as 1500 mg/dL.
Primary low-HDL syndromes - a diminished level of HDL, often
less than 35 mg/dL, which can lead to heart disease even in
the absence of high total cholesterol.
Diagnosing Hyperlipidemia
Since there are no symptoms associated with hyperlipidemia it's
recommended that people have blood tests to measure their lipid
levels every five years after the age of 20.
Treatment Options
Lowering the LDL cholesterol levels is the primary target of
lipid therapy. health care providers usually first recommend that
people make changes in their diet
and exercise habits. This is often referred to as making therapeutic lifestyle
changes (TLC).
- Smokers should quit immediately
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Exercise regularly
- Saturated fat should
make up less than 7 percent of total daily calories for a person with
hyperlipidemia
- Total fat should make up 25 to 35 percent of
daily calories
- Cholesterol eaten should be less than 200 mg per
day
- Eat more soluble fiber (found in
oats, peas, beans, and some fruits) - 20 and 30
g per day
- Eat more plant stanols or sterols (substances found
in nuts, vegetable oils, corn and rice)
Other
foods to eat more of to help control cholesterol include:
- Fish (cold-water fish, including mackerel, sardines, tuna,
cod, salmon, and halibut) contains omega-3 fatty acids that may
lower triglycerides
- Soybeans (found in tofu, miso soup, soy nuts, and
most meat substitutes) contain a powerful antioxidant that
can lower LDL
- Psyllium (a source of soluble
fiber found in over-the-counter laxatives made from seed grain
husks) helps absorb water and cholesterol from the intestines
and may improve the ratio of HDL to LDL
If lipid levels do not improve after three months of lifestyle
changes your health care provider may consider adding
medication, such as:
- Statins
(lower levels of LDL
and triglycerides by preventing the liver
from manufacturing cholesterol)
- Bile acid sequestrants (block reabsorption of bile, the
digestive liquid that allows fats to be absorbed by the body)
- Fibrates (lower cholesterol and
triglycerides in the blood)
- Niacin (Nicotinic acid, Vitamin B5 - appears
to decrease the breakdown of
triglycerides in the liver, preventing fat storage and decreasing
LDL)
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