Why people get Hyperlipidemia?

1. The most common cause is familial (inherited in the family), but other factor s may play important role.
2. Hyperlipidaemia develops as a result of abnormal lipoprotein metabolism (Fat related chemical reactions in the body).
3. The various components of cholesterol Transport system in the blood are effected which cause increase in blood cholesterol or triglycerides: these includes:
1. High blood cholesterol levels (hypercholesterolemia): Subtypes includes:
1. Increase LDL cholesterol ( Bad Cholesterol)
2. Increase or decrease in HDL ( Good cholesterol)
2. High blood levels of triglycerides (hypertriglyceridemia)

Risks/causes of Hyperlipidemia

There are various risk factors, which can lead to the development of hyperlipidaemia. Several factors play important role including:

1. Unhealthy food, a diet high in saturated fat and cholesterol increases blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
2. Medical disorders including:
1. Diabetes Mellitus
2. Kidney Disease
3. Hypothyroidism
3. Certain drugs/medications, such as estrogen, corticosteroids, retinoids, protease inhibitors, thiazide diuretics, and beta-blockers, may cause hypertriglyceridemia.
4. Obesity
5. Chronic, excessive alcohol use.
6. Smoking
7. Lack of exercise

How to diagnosis Hyperlipidemia?

The signs and symptoms of arrhythmias are:

1. High cholesterol has no symptoms
2. Some patient may develop small bumps on the skin at various parts of body including:
1. Xanthelasma: yellowish patches underneath the skin around the eyelids
2. Xanthomata: yellowish patches at the fingers (tendons) elbows, knees

Tests to diagnose Hyperlipidemia

1. Blood test: Ideally, after 9-12 hours without any food, blood should be checked for cholesterol levels (also called a lipid panel or lipid profile):
1. Total cholesterol
2. LDL cholesterol
3. HDL cholesterol
4. Triglycerides — a type of fat in the blood

Interpretation of High Cholesterol:

Treatment of Hyperlipidemia:

1. Treating high cholesterol and triglycerides is very important as significantly increase risk of coronary artery disease, brain stroke and peripheral vascular disease.
2. Lifestyle changes plays an important role in the management.
3. Your physician will decided, the specific choice of medication or combination of medications depends on various factors, including your individual risk factors, your age, your current health and possible side effects.

Medications

1. Statins
1. Statins is the most commonly used medications for high cholesterol and high triglycerides
2. Statins causes your liver to remove cholesterol from your blood and also help reabsorb cholesterol from built-up deposits on your artery walls, and may potentially reversing coronary artery disease ( deposition of cholesterol in heart arteries)
3. The various examples include; atorvastatin (Lipitor), fluvastatin (Lescol), pitavastatin (Livalo), pravastatin (Pravachol), rosuvastatin (Crestor) and simvastatin (Zocor).


2. Cholesterol absorption inhibitors
1. This drug reduces the absorption of dietary cholesterol from your gut.
2. This drug is usually used in combination with STATINS.
3. Example include: ezetimibe (Zetia)


3. Bile-acid-binding resins
1. These drugs lower cholesterol indirectly by interacting with bile acids (produced by your liver) and therefore reduces the level of cholesterol in your blood.
2. These drugs includes: cholestyramine (Prevalite), colesevelam (Welchol) and colestipol (Colestid)


4. Injectable Medications
1. These are new class of medications, which can help the liver absorb more LDL cholesterol and therefore, lowers the amount of cholesterol in your blood.
2. Can be used for people who have a genetic condition, causing high cholesterol.
3. Can be used for patients who cannot tolerate statins or other cholesterol medications because of side effects.
4. Examples include: Alirocumab (Praluent) and evolocumab (Repatha)

If you also have high triglycerides, your doctor may prescribe:

1. Fibrates
1. These reducing your liver's production of very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) cholesterol and increase removal of triglycerides from your blood
2. The medications includes: fenofibrate (TriCor, Fenoglide, others) and gemfibrozil (Lopid)
2. Omega-3 fatty acid supplements
1. Omega-3 fatty acid supplements can help lower your triglycerides.

How to live with Hyperlipidemia?

Diet and Life style changes

If you have Hyperlipidemia: you must work on your lifestyle changes: these changes include:

1. Stop smoking and avoid exposure to passive smoking.
2. Eat a healthy diet with limited amounts of saturated fat; eat whole grains, and many fruits and vegetables and Restrict sodium in your diet
3. Treat diseases or conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure and stress.
4. Limit alcohol consumption to one to two drinks or fewer a day.
5. Maintain a healthy weight and maintain weight monitoring diary

Exercise and Hyperlipidaemia

1. Regular exercise of 30 to 60 minutes a day improves Cholesterol
2. Cycling, swimming, brisk Walk are all helpful

Types of FOOD to Choose

1. AVOID saturated fat
1. Saturated fat increases your total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol.
2. The most common sources of in the diet are red meat, processed meats and dairy products that are not fat-free.
3. What to use:
1. Monounsaturated fat, which is found in olive and canola oils should be used. Other options include: Avocados, almonds, pecans and walnuts.
2. AVOID trans-fat
1. Trans-fats increases your total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol ( bad cholesterol and also lowers the HDL cholesterol ( Good cholesterol)
2. Trans fats, are found in margarines, baked cookies, crackers and snack cakes
3. Limit your dietary cholesterol
1. The most concentrated sources of cholesterol includes egg yolks, organ meats (liver etc.) and whole milk products.
4. What to use:
1. Use lean cuts of meat (remove all fat).
2. Skim milk.
3. Limit the intake of eggs to no more than3-4 a week.
5. Fruits and vegetables
1. Fruits and vegetables are rich in dietary fiber, which can help lower cholesterol.
6. Sea Food
1. Cod, Tuna and halibut — have less total fat, saturated fat and cholesterol than do meat and poultry.
2. Salmon, mackerel and herring are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which is excellent for good heart health.

Hyperlipidaemia and Support Services

1. Having a Hyperlipidaemia is one of the concerning experiences of your life.
2. People may experience Fear, anger, guilt and depression after diagnosis with Hyperlipidaemia
3. Discussing them with your doctor, a family member or a friend might help.

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