Hyperlipidemia Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments

Hyperlipidemia refers to a condition characterized by high lipid or cholesterol levels in the body. Over time, these fatty lipids may block your arteries and cause major health issues. In the United States, around one-third of the population suffers from hyperlipidemia. 

Hyperlipidemia can be difficult to diagnose in its early stages. It generally doesn’t cause any symptoms, and most people are unaware that they have it until they receive the results of a blood test after visiting the doctor. However, in rare circumstances, such as when a genetic disorder causes hyperlipidemia, mild symptoms may develop.

In this article, we will discuss hyperlipidemia, its signs and causes, and possible prevention and treatment options.

What Is Hyperlipidemia and How Does It Occur?

Hyperlipidemia is a condition that occurs when there is an excessive amount of cholesterol in the blood. Doctors correlate this condition with atherosclerosis, as well as other serious diseases such as peripheral artery disease, heart attacks, and strokes. When your blood cholesterol levels are too high, sludge (plaque) can form on the walls of your blood vessels (arteries). The sludge deposits accumulate over time and obstruct these pipes like vessels.

Cholesterol is a waxy fat molecule produced by the liver. It is necessary for hormone production, vitamin storage, brain function, and healthy cell membranes. Two types of proteins carry cholesterol to cells: low-density lipoproteins (LDL), or bad cholesterol, and high-density lipoproteins (HDL), or good cholesterol. LDL has a negative impact on health, but HDL works to reverse its effects. 

HDL is beneficial to health because it transports excess cholesterol back to the liver for elimination. The liver then removes cholesterol using bile. LDL, which stays in the bloodstream, affects health by allowing excess cholesterol to accumulate in the blood.

Triglycerides are another type of fat found in the blood. Although they are not cholesterol, they are closely linked to heart disease. As a result, doctors also check triglyceride levels in people with hyperlipidemia.

Levels and Ranges of Cholesterol

Your cholesterol levels indicate the amount of cholesterol in your blood. Understanding your cholesterol levels is extremely important for heart health because elevated levels can increase the risk of heart disease. A person may develop hyperlipidemia if they have one or more of the following:

• High LDL levels
• Low HDL levels
• Elevated levels of triglycerides

The following table shows the ideal cholesterol levels:

Overall cholesterol	Under 200 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dl)
HDL cholesterol	Men: More than 40 mg/dlWomen: More than 50 mg/dl
LDL cholesterol	Otherwise, healthy individuals: Less than 100 mg/dL.Individuals with poorly managed risk factors, diabetes, or heart disease: Less than 70 mg/dl
Triglycerides	Less than 150 mg/dl

What Are The Main Types of Hyperlipidemia?

Before delving into the various types of hyperlipidemia, it may be helpful to understand the types of blood lipoproteins that are associated with this condition. Lipoproteins are the proteins that carry lipids (fats) throughout your body.

• Chylomicrons: Chylomicrons transport triglycerides and cholesterol to the liver and other tissues throughout the body.
• Very Low-Density Lipoproteins (VLDLs): Your liver produces VLDLs, which assist in transporting triglycerides to various tissues.
• Intermediate-density Lipoproteins (IDLs): They are formed when triglycerides from VLDLs are absorbed by muscle and fat cells. IDLs have a higher concentration of cholesterol due to their reduced triglyceride content.
• Low-density Lipoproteins (LDLs): They are formed when IDLs lose triglycerides. They have exceptionally high cholesterol levels and transport the majority of cholesterol in the body.
• High-density Lipoproteins (HDLs): They remove cholesterol from the tissues and carry it to the liver.

Doctors classified hyperlipidemia into six types depending on the presence of increased lipoproteins in the blood.

HLD Type	Condition Name	Elevated Lipoproteins
I	Familial hyperchylomicronemia or primary hyperlipoproteinemia (high cholesterol due to family history)	chylomicrons
IIa	Familial hypercholesterolemia or polygenic hypercholesterolemia (caused by genetic mutations or environmental factors)	LDL
IIb	Familial combined hyperlipidemia (FCHL) (due to genetic disorder resulting in increased blood fats)	LDL, VLDL
III	Familial dysbetalipoproteinemia (caused by mutations in the gene and lifestyle factors)	IDL
IV	Familial hypertriglyceridemia (FHTG) (caused by genetic variants along with environmental factors)	VLDL
V	Hypobetalipoproteinemia (caused due to genetic mutations and lifestyle factors)	VLDL, Chylomicrons

Hyperlipidemia can be primary (genetic) or secondary (induced by another underlying health problem). Type I HLD is the most uncommon form, while Type IIb (FCHL) is the most prevalent.

What Causes High Cholesterol?

Hyperlipidemia is a cholesterol imbalance in your blood caused by a combination of high LDL cholesterol and insufficient HDL cholesterol to remove it. To know what causes hyperlipidemia, it is important to understand the two categories of hyperlipidemia: familial (inherited or mixed hyperlipidemia) and acquired. The familial type results from genes inherited from your parents. The acquired type is caused due to underlying health issues, medications, and lifestyle choices.

Acquired Hyperlipidemia

Certain lifestyle factors are the most common cause of acquired hyperlipidemia. It could also be caused by medications you take or pre-existing health conditions.

Dietary and Lifestyle Factors

Lifestyle and dietary factors can increase “bad” cholesterol levels while decreasing “good” cholesterol levels. The primary lifestyle decisions that increase your risk of getting high cholesterol levels are a high-fat diet (that includes animal foods, meat, and cheese), insufficient exercise, smoking, or exposure to secondhand smoke, which results in being overweight or obese. This will lead to high cholesterol levels in the blood. Heavy alcohol consumption (even moderate doses of red wine) may have an adverse effect.

Stress

Stress is the body’s reaction to pressure from difficult life events. Chronic stress leads to high levels of cortisol in the blood, which may affect peripheral cholesterol mechanisms. This can have a negative impact on health and contribute to elevated cholesterol levels. However, stress does not immediately raise cholesterol. Instead, stress may lead to a person adopting bad lifestyle choices to deal with stress. For example, stress can lead to an unhealthy food habit, smoking, and alcohol consumption; thus, it is important to know how to manage stress.

Underlying Health Conditions

High cholesterol can also be caused by health conditions such as Kidney disease, diabetes, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), an underactive thyroid, and liver disease. Other hereditary disorders, including pregnancy, may also contribute to elevated cholesterol.

Medications

Several medications may sometimes affect your cholesterol levels, such as birth control pills, diuretics, corticosteroids, and antiretrovirals (medications used to treat HIV. Beta-blockers rarely influence cholesterol levels and are often not significant enough to be worth stopping the prescription.

Familial Hyperlipidemia or Mixed Hyperlipidemia

Low HDL, high LDL, and triglycerides characterize mixed hyperlipidemia. It’s an inherited disorder classified as “familial hyperlipidemia.” It is the most common form among young individuals who have suffered a heart attack.

High LDL is the only symptom of a genetic disorder called familial hypercholesterolemia. Familial hypertriglyceridemia is another hereditary disorder that affects your cholesterol. When you have this condition, your body produces an excessive amount of very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL). As a result, you will have high VLDL and triglyceride levels.

How To Identify Hyperlipidemia?

The majority of individuals suffering from this condition are initially unaware because they initially don’t notice any hyperlipidemia symptoms. The only way to know if you have hyperlipidemia is to have a blood test. Although you can’t feel it, you might eventually realize its complications. Cholesterol, triglycerides, and other fats can accumulate inside the arteries. This causes blood vessels to constrict, making it more difficult for blood to pass through. Your blood pressure may increase. The narrowing of your arteries may cause numerous complications, such as: 

Coronary Artery Disease

CAD is the most common type of heart disease in the United States. When your arteries get blocked, it becomes more difficult for your heart to receive the blood it requires to function properly. This can result in a heart attack or failure. You may not notice it until you experience chest discomfort (also known as angina) or other signs of a heart attack.

Stroke

During a stroke, a clot moves through your body and prevents blood flow to a portion of your brain. The symptoms of a stroke are a headache that starts quickly and is severe and difficulty in speaking. You may also have difficulty understanding what others are saying. Feeling numb or weak affecting one side of your body. Your mouth may drop to one side when you try to smile. You may have blurred vision in one or both eyes. and might have difficulty walking. 

Fatty Growths

You may develop yellow fatty deposits beneath your skin if you have inherited hyperlipidemia. These are areas where cholesterol has accumulated. They are referred to as xanthelasmas if they are adjacent to your nose around your eyelids. These deposits can also appear elsewhere on your body and are known as xanthomas. They are most commonly found in the elbows, knees, various joints, hands, feet, and buttocks.

Read more: What Is BLS and What Does It Involve in Healthcare?

4 Effective Strategies to Manage Hyperlipidemia 

Lifestyle and dietary changes are important for preventing and treating high cholesterol. Options include eating a “heart-healthy” diet, exercising regularly, quitting smoking, and keeping a healthy body weight.

Diet

Limiting consumption of saturated fat, trans fats, and dietary cholesterol while increasing consumption of whole grain foods, a range of whole fruits and vegetables, fiber, and water are all components of a heart-healthy diet. People should aim to limit or avoid fast foods, sugar (glucose), high-carbohydrate foods, and any processed foods or foods with low nutritional content. Fish, nuts, and legumes include “healthy fats,” which can help people reduce their LDL cholesterol levels. Choose fish oil or omega 3, olive oil, or any oil high in monounsaturated fats when using oil.

Weight

Obesity and excess weight due to a lack of physical activity also increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and hyperlipidemia. Losing weight by following a proper exercise regimen will help lower your LDL, total cholesterol, and triglyceride levels. Being physically active can also increase HDL, which helps eliminate LDL from the blood. The American Heart Association advises 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity per week.

Adopt Yoga and Meditation

Many people struggle to cope with stress, whether temporary or long-term. Managing stress can be as easy as reducing responsibilities or increasing physical activity. Therapy with a skilled psychologist can also teach patients new strategies for managing stress. Plan aside time for meditation, yoga (such as bhujangasana, ardha matsyendrasana, etc.), creating art, and other arts and crafts activities that you enjoy. Share your thoughts and emotions with others or seek counseling.

Quit smoking

Smoking causes numerous complications that contribute to heart disease. It promotes atherosclerosis, raises LDL levels, and induces inflammation and blood clotting. Quitting smoking will lead to greater HDL levels. This could be one of the reasons why quitting smoking reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Other Treatment Options

Managing hyperlipidemia through a healthy diet and regular exercise can help lower blood lipoprotein levels. However, genetics also play a role in cholesterol levels, meaning lifestyle changes alone may not be enough for everyone. In such cases, medication may be necessary.

Though they are not a cure, doctors often prescribe statins, such as atorvastatin, lovastatin, rosuvastatin, and simvastatin, after trying lifestyle changes to reduce cholesterol production in the liver. While effective, statins can cause side effects, the most common being muscle soreness, digestive issues, or liver problems. Although rare, severe muscle injury can occur.

If muscle pain becomes difficult to tolerate, consult a doctor before stopping the medication. Discontinuing statins without medical advice can increase the risk of serious cardiovascular events. A doctor can help weigh the benefits of treatment against potential side effects and may suggest alternatives if needed.

Read more: Heart Disease: Facts and  Statistics You Must Know!

Strategic Approach to Relieve Hyperlipidemia Effectively! 

Hyperlipidemia is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular disease. It refers to elevated blood levels of LDL cholesterol and triglycerides. High-density lipoprotein (HDL) is considered good cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is bad cholesterol.

Hypothyroidism, a high-fat diet, and being overweight all contribute to elevated cholesterol. Some types of hyperlipidemia, however, are caused by genetics. Regular physical exercise and a diet rich in healthy fats help a person maintain a healthy cholesterol balance and avoid related heart health problems. 

Similarly, getting trained and certified in CPR/AED can help you avoid various life-threatening heart disorders. So, why wait? Begin your journey today by learning numerous warning signs and gaining the skills you require to respond effectively in an emergency. 

FAQs

1. What does it mean when you have hyperlipidemia? 

Hyperlipidemia occurs when your blood contains an excessive amount of lipids. This can clog your arteries, increasing your chance of having a stroke and developing heart problems. Doctors also associate this disorder with atherosclerosis (artery hardening) and other severe conditions such as heart attacks and peripheral artery disease.

2. How do you get rid of hyperlipidemia?

Begin with lifestyle changes such as eating a healthy diet, getting more exercise, limiting your alcohol use, getting 7 hours of sleep every night, and quitting smoking. If lifestyle changes are insufficient to reduce your cholesterol levels to a healthy level, your doctor may prescribe medication to treat hyperlipidemia.

3. Can you recover from hyperlipidemia? 

Hyperlipidemia is normally manageable, and these emergencies can be avoided. To avoid progression, an early diagnosis and treatment strategy are essential. Lifestyle changes are the primary treatment for hyperlipidemia. If these measures are insufficient, your doctor may recommend drugs to help you manage your high cholesterol.

4. What is the life expectancy of someone with hyperlipidemia?

If you are aware of your risk at a young age and seek treatment, you are more likely to live a normal life. The presence of heterozygous or homozygous familial hyperlipidemia (FH) can affect your life expectancy. Individuals with heterozygous FH may live 10–30 years less than those without FH. People with severe homozygous FH, on the other hand, may have a 33-year life expectancy.