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Hyperlipidemia

(Dyslipidemia; High Triglycerides; Triglycerides, High)

by Rick Alan

En Español (Spanish Version)
 

Definition

Hyperlipidemia is a high level of fats in the blood. These fats, called lipids, include cholesterol and triglycerides. There are five types of hyperlipidemia. The type depends on which lipid in the blood is high.

 

Causes

Causes may include:

 

Risk Factors

These factors increase your chance of developing this condition. Tell your doctor if you have any of these:

 

Symptoms

Hyperlipidemia usually does not cause symptoms. Very high levels of lipids or triglycerides can cause:

  • Fat deposits in the skin or tendons ( xanthomas)
  • Pain, enlargement, or swelling of organs such as the liver, spleen, or pancreas ( pancreatitis)
  • Obstruction of blood vessels in heart and brain

Hyperlipidemia can increase your risk of atherosclerosis. This is a dangerous hardening of the arteries. It can end up blocking blood flow. In some cases, this may result in:

Blood Vessel with Atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis

Copyright © Nucleus Medical Media, Inc.

 

Diagnosis

This condition is diagnosed with blood tests. These tests measure the levels of lipids in the blood. The National Cholesterol Education Program advises that you have your lipids checked at least once every five years, starting at age 20. Also, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends lipid screening for children at risk (eg, a family history of hyperlipidemia).

Testing may consist of a fasting blood test for:

  • Total cholesterol
  • LDL (bad cholesterol)
  • HDL (good cholesterol)
  • Triglycerides

Your doctor may recommend more frequent or earlier testing if you have:

  • Family history of hyperlipidemia
  • Risk factor or disease that may cause hyperlipidemia
  • Complication that may result from hyperlipidemia
 

Treatment

Treatment is not only aimed at correcting your cholesterol levels, but also at lowering your overall risk for heart disease and strokes.

Diet Changes

Lifestyle Changes

  • If you are overweight, lose weight.
  • If you smoke, quit.
  • Exercise regularly. Talk to you doctor before starting an exercise program. You may already have hardening of the arteries or heart disease. These conditions increase your risk of having a heart attack while exercising.
  • Make sure other medical conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes are being treated and controlled.

Medications

There are a number of drugs available, such as statins, to treat this condition and help lower your risk for heart disease. Talk to your doctor. Statins have been shown to reduce mortality (death), heart attacks, and stroke.

These medicines are best used as additions to diet and exercise and should not replace healthy lifestyle changes.

 

Prevention

To help reduce your chance of getting hyperlipidemia, take the following steps:

  • Starting at age 20, get cholesterol tests.
  • Eat a diet low in total fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol.
  • If you smoke, quit.
  • Drink alcohol in moderation (two drinks per day for men, one drink per day for women).
  • If you are overweight, lose weight.
  • Exercise regularly. Talk with your doctor first.
  • If you have diabetes, control your blood sugar.
  • Talk to your doctor about medications you are taking. They may have side effects that cause hyperlipidemia.
RESOURCES::

American Heart Association
http://www.americanheart.org/

Vascular Web
http://www.vascularweb.org/

CANADIAN RESOURCES::

Canadian Cardiovascular Society
http://www.ccs.ca/home/index_e.aspx/

Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada
http://www.heartandstroke.com/

REFERENCES::

Berkow R. The Merck Manual of Medical Information . 17th ed. New York, NY: Simon and Schuster, Inc; 2000.

Hyperlipidemia. Vascular Web website. Available at: http://www.vascula... . Updated March 2007. Accessed July 8, 2008.

Kasper DL, Harrison TR. Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine . 16th ed. New York, NY: McGraw Hill; 2005.

US Department of Health and Human Services. Side effects of anit-HIV medications. National Institutes of Health website. Available at: http://aidsinfo.ni... . Published October 2005. Accessed July 8, 2008.

7/22/2008 DynaMed Systematic Literature Surveillance http://www.dynamicmedical.com/what.php : Daniels SR, Greer FR; Committee on Nutrition. Lipid screening and cardiovascular health in childhood. Pediatrics. 2008;122:198-208.


Last reviewed September 2011 by Michael J. Fucci, DO
Last Updated: 9/1/2011

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