What is hyperlipidemia?

 
Hyperlipidemia is another term for having high cholesterol. Cholesterol is a waxy substance found in the fats of blood. The body does need cholesterol in order to build healthy cells but having high cholesterol can increase the risk of developing heart disease and/or having a heart attack.
 
 

Who is impacted?

 

Patients at high risk for developing hyperlipidemia have the one or more of the following factors:

• Poor diet
• Obesity (>30)
• Large waist circumference
• Physical inactivity
• Smoking
• diabetes

 

 

How is hyperlipidemia diagnosed?

 

Hyperlipidemia is typically diagnosed by a prescriber ordering a lipid panel or lipid profile. This report consists of the following different types of cholesterols:

• Total cholesterol
• LDL cholesterol (also another term for bad cholesterol)
• HDL cholesterol (also another term for good cholesterol)
• Triglycerides (type of fat in the blood)

 

 

How is hyperlipidemia treated?

 

• First and foremost, diet and exercise can be a huge plus when it comes to high cholesterol but the following classes of medications can also be used to treat high cholesterol:
  • Statins
  • Bile-acid-binding resins
  • Cholesterol absorption inhibitors
  • Injectable medications (Repatha & Praluent)
• For high triglycerides, the following are typically used:
  • Fibrates
  • Niacin
  • Omega-3 fatty acid supplements

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-cholesterol/symptoms-causes/syc-20350800