Hyperlipidemia is a medical term for abnormally high levels of fats (lipids) in the blood. They also come directly from your diet in foods such as red meat and high-fat foods. A diet high in refined sugar, fructose, and alcohol raises your cholesterol. Hyperlipidemia is treatable, but it's often a life-long condition. You may need to take a prescription medication. The goal is to lower the harmful cholesterol levels (LDL and Triglycerides). Doing so can reduce your risk of heart disease, heart attack, stroke, and other problems. HDL is a good cholesterol and healthy diet and exercise is the key to keep the HDL in the normal range.
Causes
Cholesterol, a waxy substance, is a type of fat your body makes. It can also come from what you eat. Foods that have cholesterol, saturated fat, and trans fats can raise your blood cholesterol level. These include:
- Cheese
- Egg yolks
- Fried and processed foods
- Ice cream
- Pastries
- Red meat
Treatment
The treatment should begin with exercise, weight loss, a low-fat diet and, if applicable, diabetes management. In most cases diet and exercise is alone is not sufficient.
ORAL MEDICATION
Anti-cholesterol medications (statins) taken orally, usually once a day, are extremely effective in lowering LDL and VLDL cholesterol levels. Success is monitored by periodic blood tests. The most common side effects of a statin medication are intolerable muscle and joint aches. There are multiple FDA-approved statins, so trying a different one is usually suggested before giving up due to side effects. Statins may cause cognitive dysfunction, risks that are far outweighed by the benefits of decreased morbidity and mortality from cardiovascular disease.
INJECTIONS
If statins don't work for you, due to side effects or insufficient results, ask your physician about protein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors. PCSK9 inhibitors appear to lower cholesterol levels 60% more than statins. While promising, these drugs are taken by injection, and can be very expensive. They are not yet recommended as first-line therapy.
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