Hyperlipidemia

Hyperlipidemia – General Information

Hyperlipidemia (also known as hyperlipoproteinemia and dyslipidemia) means that the levels of lipids and lipoprotein from the blood are abnormal. The lipid and lipoprotein abnormalities are very common in the population and these abnormalities are regarded as a risk factor of developing cardiovascular disease. These abnormalities are a risk factor because of the cholesterol, because if the levels of cholesterol in blood are high this can lead to atherosclerosis and even to acute pancreatitis. There are six types of Hyperlipidemia as follows: type I is a very rare form (also known as Buerger-Gruetz syndrome) which is due to the deficiency of lipoprotein lipase (also abbreviated LPL) which leads to increased level of chylomicrons (the chylomicrons are small particles which are responsible with the fatty transfer from the digestive tract intro the liver. Type II is the most common form of Hyperlipidemia and it is classified in type IIa (which is a polygenic disease which appears due to a mutation in the chromosome 19 and can lead to premature cardiovascular diseases) and IIb (this disease develops due to an overproduction of triglycerides and acetyl CoA). The type III appears as a result of the high levels of chylomicrons and intermediate density lipoprotein (also abbreviated IDL). Type IV (also known as Hypertriglyceridemia) develops as a result to the high levels of triglycerides. The type V is a disease similar to the type I, but which has elevated levels of VLDL (very low-density lipoprotein. This medical condition affects women as well as men.

Hyperlipidemia – Symptoms

It is well known the fact that any medical disorder (including Hyperlipidemia) can trigger a variety of symptoms. Therefore, some of this medical condition's most uncommon symptoms have not been listed (mentioned) here. This is why we strongly recommend you to contact your personal health care provider whenever you develop any unusual, bothersome or unpleasant symptoms. Your personal physician will be able to tell you if you are suffering from Hyperlipidemia or from any other medical disorder. Here is a list of the most common symptoms that a person who suffers from Hyperlipidemia, may experience. Usually, this medical condition is asymptomatic and it is usually discovered when a patient goes to a routine control. Xanthomas (which are deposits of cholesterol) usually forms under the patient’s skin (the most common areas where these deposits form are under the eyes and along the Achilles tendon). The patients who are suffering from hypertriglyceridemia (meaning type IV) usually develop pimple-like lesions all over the body. The high levels of triglycerides usually lead to pancreatitis (pancreatitis is the severe inflammation of the pancreas and it is a life-threatening medical condition). All patients must know that this is not a complete list of the symptoms that this medical condition can trigger. For further information we strongly advise you to seek your personal health care provider’s advice.

Hyperlipidemia – Treatment

As Hyperlipidemia does not cause any signs or symptoms, this medical condition may be diagnosed after a blood test. The doctors advise the people to make a blood test for this disease at least once at five years, especially the persons who are after the age of 20. This blood test usually reveals the levels of the lipids in the blood and the doctor or personal health care provider will compare the results from the patient’s test with the normal levels in order to establish ranges. These ranges help the doctors of health care providers to diagnose Hyperlipidemia and to decide if the patient needs medical treatment, life style modifications or both of them.

If the patient has Hyperlipidemia, the doctor will also check him for atherosclerosis or other heart diseases and risk factors for heart diseases. The number of the risk factors of developing a heart disease influences the aggressivity of the treatment for this medical condition. The blood tests which a patient must do measure the levels of LDL (which is called “bad” cholesterol), HDL (which is called “good” cholesterol), total cholesterol and triglycerides. In order for the risk of developing a heart disease to be minimal the lipid levels must be the followings: the LDL must be under 130 mg/dL, the HDL must be grater than 40 mg/dl in men and 50 mg in women, the total cholesterol must be 200 mg/dL and the triglyceride level must be less than 200 mg/dL. As we said before the treatment of the Hyperlipidemia depends on the levels of the lipid in the person’s organism, the heart disease risk factors and the patient’s general health. The doctor or personal health care provider will recommend the patients before all other treatments to make some lifestyle changes. The principal goal of the treatment of the Hyperlipidemia is to lower the levels of the LDL cholesterol. In the cases in which the life style changes have not helped in lowering the LDL cholesterol or in those cases in which the doctor believes that the patient needs a stronger treatment than just a few life style changes, drugs may help. The persons who usually can not lower their LDL cholesterol levels are the post-menopausal women and the men who are older than 35 years and they are prescribed medications. The medications which help to lower the lipid levels are:

• Statin drugs – these drugs prevent the liver from producing cholesterol.
• Bile acid sequestrants – these drugs prevent the body from reabsorbing the cholesterol.
• Fibrates.
• Niacin (also known as vitamin B5).

In order to prevent this medical condition the doctors advise the patients to make changes in their diet by avoiding the intake of fats (and to eat as much as possible food which can help in the lowering of the cholesterol such as cold-water fish such as sardines, salmon, mackerel) and to make exercises (these changes are known as Therapeutic lifestyle changes, and are also abbreviated TLC).  In some cases these therapeutic lifestyle changes can lower the levels of the cholesterol by 20%.