overview
what is hyperlipidemia?
Hyperlipidemia, also known as dyslipidemia or high cholesterol, means you have too many lipids (fats) in your blood. Your liver creates cholesterol to help you digest food and make things like hormones. but you also eat cholesterol in foods from the meat and dairy aisles. Since your liver can make all the cholesterol it needs, the cholesterol in the food you eat is extra.
Too much cholesterol (200 mg/dl to 239 mg/dl is borderline high and 240 mg/dl is high) is unhealthy because it can create blockages in the pathways of the arteries where blood travels to the body. this damages organs that don’t get enough blood from the arteries.
Bad cholesterol (ldl) is the most dangerous type because it causes hard cholesterol deposits (plaque) to build up inside the blood vessels. this makes it difficult for blood to pass through, putting you at risk for a stroke or heart attack. the plaque itself may be irritated or inflamed, which can cause a clot to form around it. this can cause a stroke or heart attack depending on where the blockage is.
Think of cholesterol, a type of fat, as riding lipoprotein cars through your blood.
- low-density lipoprotein (ldl) is known as bad cholesterol because it can clog your arteries like a big truck that has broken down and blocks a lane of traffic. (borderline number high: 130 mg/dl to 159 mg/dl. high: 160 mg/dl to 189 mg/dl.)
- very low density lipoprotein (vldl) is also called bad because it carries triglycerides that add to arterial plaque. this is another type of traffic blocker.
- high-density lipoprotein (hdl) is known as good cholesterol because it carries cholesterol to the liver, which removes it. this is like the tow truck that removes disabled vehicles from traffic lanes so vehicles can move. in this case, it is clearing the way for blood to pass through the blood vessels. for your hdl, you don’t want to have a number below 40 mg/dl.
- heart attack.
- stroke.
- coronary heart disease.
- Carotid artery disease.
- sudden cardiac arrest.
- peripheral arterial disease.
- microvascular disease.
It’s important to know that providers consider factors other than your cholesterol levels when making treatment decisions.
what is dyslipidemia versus hyperlipidemia?
These are mostly interchangeable terms for cholesterol abnormalities. your cholesterol may be “dysfunctional” (cholesterol particles that are very inflammatory or an abnormal balance between good and bad cholesterol levels) without being high.
Both high cholesterol and increased inflammation over “normal” cholesterol levels increase the risk of heart disease. Your providers may use both terms to refer to a problem with your cholesterol levels, and both mean that you need to do something to lower your levels.
how common is hyperlipidemia?
Hyperlipidemia is very common. Ninety-three million American adults (age 20 and older) have a total cholesterol count above the recommended limit of 200 mg/dl.
how serious is high cholesterol?
Hyperlipidemia can be very serious if not controlled. As long as high cholesterol is not treated, it will allow plaque to build up inside the blood vessels. this can lead to a heart attack or stroke because blood has a hard time passing through the blood vessels. this deprives the brain and heart of the nutrients and oxygen they need to function.
cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in Americans.
how does hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol) affect my body?
Hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol) that is not treated can allow plaque to build up inside your body’s blood vessels (atherosclerosis). this can lead to complications of hyperlipidemia including:
