What is Hyperlipidemia?
Hyperlipidemia is a condition in which blood lipid levels exceed normal levels. It is also called an increase in fat in the blood and therefore is often accompanied by an increase in several lipoprotein fractions. In another term is hiperlipoproteinemia.
Hyperlipidemia comes down to two better-known terms: high cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia) and high triglycerides (hypertriglyceridemia).
Symptoms of Hyperlipidemia
Hyperlipidemia is usually caused by diseases such as diabetes mellitus, obesity, hypothyroidism, nephrotic syndrome, and liver disorders.
Here are the symptoms of Hyperlipidemia: chest pain, heart palpitations, sweat, anxious, shortness of breath, Loss of consciousness, difficulty speaking or moving, abdominal pain, even sudden death.
Hyperlipidemia Treatment
If you’re diagnosed with hyperlipidemia, your treatment will vary based on which type of lipids that are too high, said Vincent Bufalino, chairman and chief executive of Midwest Heart Specialists in suburban Chicago and an American Heart Association volunteer.
In any case, making healthy diet choices and increasing exercise are important first steps in lowering your high cholesterol. Avoid fatty foods and lower your overall daily calorie intake. Medication is also an effective tool in managing the condition when used in conjunction with healthy eating and regular exercise.
“The combination of diet and regular physical activity is important even if you’re on medication for high cholesterol,” Dr. Bufalino said. “It’s the most critical piece.”
Consulting a doctor is important, since each condition has it quirks. For people with high triglycerides, for example, alcohol can be particularly dangerous. “But for those with high cholesterol, a daily glass of wine or other alcohol, along with healthy eating and exercise, may actually help,” said Dr. Bufalino from heart.org.
Here are some tips how to manage your cholesterol level:
- Read food labels and choose foods with low cholesterol and saturated fat levels. Dr. Bufalino recommends keeping daily cholesterol intake between 250 and 300 milligrams and make sure to limit saturated fat intake.
- Limit your intake of red meat and eggs to reduce your saturate fat and cholesterol. Choose skim milk, lowfat or fat-free dairy products. Limit fried food, and use healthy oils in cooking, such as vegetable oil.
- Increase the amount of fiber you eat. “A diet high in fiber can help lower cholesterol levels by as much as 10 percent,” said Dr. Bufalino.
- Check your family history of high cholesterol. Are you more prone to high cholesterol based on genetics? If so, take steps to minimize your risk through diet and exercise.
- Lose extra weight. A weight loss of 10 percent can go a long way to reversing, or lowering your risk of hyperlipidemia.
