Hyperlipoproteinemia Type IIa (Elevated LDL)

Hyperlipoproteinemia Type IIa (Elevated LDL) General Information

Hyperlipoproteinemia Type IIa (Elevated LDL) is a condition caused by the abnormal high levels of lipids, such as cholesterol and triglycerides that can be found in the patient’s blood. The condition can appear as sporadic, caused by dietary factors, polygenic, or familial caused by a mutation in the LDL receptor gene on chromosome 19 or a mutation to the ApoB gene. The familial form of the Hyperlipoproteinemia Type IIa (Elevated LDL) manifests through the presence of tendon xanthoma, xanthelasma and premature cardiovascular disorder. Generally, the levels of LDL cholesterol increase slightly in older patients. In most cases, these levels are higher in male patients than in female patients, but the levels can increase in female patients after menopause. The levels of LDL cholesterol in the blood increase with the age leading to the appearance of Hyperlipoproteinemia Type IIa (Elevated LDL). If this disorder is left untreated or treated improperly, it can progress, causing atherosclerosis. Usually, the main factor that can cause the condition to develop is the patient’s family history or the fact that the patient is overweight, consumes a diet rich in saturated fats and cholesterol, is physically inactive, and / or consumes a moderate or excessive amount of alcohol. There are cases in which the condition develops from certain dietary factors, such as meats rich in fats. Each body responds different to the dietary factors. Usually, consuming large amounts of calories or excessive alcohol can increase the level of triglycerides in the patient’s blood leading to the appearance of the disease.

Hyperlipoproteinemia Type IIa (Elevated LDL) Symptoms

In most cases, the increased levels of cholesterol do not cause any signs and symptoms. The LDL cholesterol can buildup in certain places of the patient’s body that are usually visible with the naked eye, such as the areas that surround the eyes, causing a condition called xanthelasma palpabrum, which is characterized by yellow colored patches above the eyelids, and arcus senilis cornea, characterized by a white discoloration of the iris. Hyperlipoproteinemia Type IIa (Elevated LDL) can also develop in tendons of the patient’s hands, elbows, knees and feet, causing the appearance of another medical condition called tendon xanthoma, characterized by the presence of several lump, usually in the Achilles tendon. If Hyperlipoproteinemia Type IIa (Elevated LDL) is left untreated it can lead to the appearance of another medical condition called atherosclerosis, the main cause of cardiovascular failure. The disease can also affect the coronary arteries, the blood vessels that supply the heart with blood, and causes a condition called angina pectoris, characterized by chest tightness on exertion, myocardial infraction, also known as heart attack. If Hyperlipoproteinemia Type IIa (Elevated LDL) affects the blood vessels that supply the brain with blood, it can lead to transient ischemic attack, characterized by several episodes of weakness on one side of the patient’s body or inability to talk, or stroke. If this medical disorder affects the blood vessels that supply the legs with blood, it can lead to intermittent claudication, characterized by pain in the feet on exertion, or peripheral artery occlusive disease.

Hyperlipoproteinemia Type IIa (Elevated LDL) Treatment

Generally, the levels of cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and triglycerides are measured by performing a blood test. In most cases, a person has to wait 12 hours without eating anything because by consuming food can increase the levels of triglyceride in the blood. The doctor can also perform some special blood tests to identify the exact cause of this disease (of what disorder is the patient suffering from); this is usually made when the lipid levels in the blood are very high. Hyperlipoproteinemia Type IIa (Elevated LDL) is also a type of hereditary medical disorder which produces certain different lipid abnormalities and presents different risks, and is similar to another disorder, hypothyroidism. In most cases, the treatment for Hyperlipoproteinemia Type IIa (Elevated LDL) involves losing weight, if the patient is overweight, stopping smoking, if the patient is smoking, decreasing the quantity of fat and cholesterol in the patient’s diet, increasing the patient’s physical activity, and the administration of a lipid lowering medicine. Scientists consider that limiting calories from fat or applying a fat free diet can cure Hyperlipoproteinemia Type IIa (Elevated LDL).

There is another fact to take in consideration about fats: the type of fat the patient is consuming. Generally, fats are classified in saturated, polyunsaturated, or monounsaturated. The saturated type of fats can increase the levels of cholesterol more than the other types. They also can provide 8% of the whole calories that are consumed each day. The polyunsaturated type of fat includes omega-3 fats and omega-6 fats and the monounsaturated fats act by decreasing the levels of triglycerides and LDL cholesterol in the patient’s blood. The largest quantities of saturated fats can be found in meats, eggs, dairy products, nuts, and coconuts. There are several vegetable oils that contain certain amounts of saturated fats. For example, margarine is a products made from polyunsaturated vegetable oils, considered a healthy substitute for butter, which is made form a large amount of saturated fats. The bad part about margarine is that it can worsen the medical status of a patient who suffers from Hyperlipoproteinemia Type IIa (Elevated LDL). There are also certain margarines that contain plant stanols or sterols, which act by decreasing the amount of LDL cholesterol in the patient’s blood. To treat the disease, doctors can recommend a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and grains that contain smaller amounts of fats and no cholesterol. There are also some cases in which doctors prescribe a diet with foods rich in fiber, because it can bind fats in the gastrointestinal tract, and decrease the cholesterol level, and can include bran, oatmeal, beans, peas, rice bran, barley, citrus fruits, oat, strawberries, and apple pulp. To treat Hyperlipoproteinemia Type IIa (Elevated LDL), doctors can recommend regular physical activity, which can have the effect of lowering the LDL cholesterol levels and increase the HDL cholesterol levels, and can be made by jogging 40 min a day, three times a week. The physical therapy proved to be effective in more than half of the cases.