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What is hyperlipidemia?
Hyperlipidemia is an elevation of lipids (fats) in the bloodstream. These lipids include cholesterol, cholesterol esters (compounds), phospholipids and triglycerides. They're transported in the blood as part of large molecules called lipoproteins.
These are the five major families of blood (plasma) lipoproteins:
What are the types of hyperlipidemia?
When hyperlipidemia is defined in terms of a class or classes of elevated lipoproteins in the blood, the term hyperlipoproteinemia is used. Hypercholesterolemia is the term for high cholesterol levels in the blood. Hypertriglyceridemia refers to high triglyceride levels in the blood.
What are the signs and symptoms?
If you are obese and have any of the following symptoms please call your vet immediately. Symptoms of hyperlipidemia in include the following:
§ Drowsiness
§ Un-coordinated movements
§ Colic
§ Diarrhea
§ Muscle Twitching
§ Loss of Appetite
How is high cholesterol detected?
When your doctor orders your blood cholesterol test, he or she may order a preliminary assessment of total cholesterol and high density lipoproteins or HDL (good cholesterol), which can be done without fasting. Your doctor may order a complete cholesterol profile which requires fasting and includes total blood cholesterol, triglycerides, low density lipoproteins or LDL, and HDL. A high LDL level is considered dangerous because it seems to promote the deposit of cholesterol in the artery walls. HDL is considered beneficial because it helps carry cholesterol away from the tissues.
Overview
There are two main lipids found in the blood, cholesterol and triglycerides, also known as serum lipoproteins. Cholesterol is an essential chemical within the body, without it we will die. Yet, if our blood levels of cholesterol and triglycerides are too high, we are at risk for coronary artery disease which is a major cause of death in the United States today.
Cholesterol is an essential element contained in all human cell membranes; it is a structural component of steroid hormones and bile acids. Triglycerides are important in helping to transfer energy from food into body cells.
Lipoproteins are categorized based on how dense they are. Density is based on the amounts of cholesterol triglycerides and apoproteins. The densest and smallest are called high-density lipoproteins or HDL, also know at "the Good Cholesterol". Lipoproteins that are a little less dense are called low-density lipoproteins of LDL. The least dense, and the largest of the lipoproteins, are the very low-density lipoproteins or VLDL.
Risk of Coronary Heart Disease
In coronary heart disease, plaque accumulates along the walls of the coronary arteries. Plaque, can also accumulate in other major arteries within the body, this is termed atherosclerosis. Epidemiological research has shown that high levels of LDL cholesterol increases the risk of coronary heart disease and atherosclerosis, just as high levels of HDL cholesterol lower that same risk.
Caused
Hyperlipidemia can be caused by a genetic defect that affects fat metabolism. However, many cases of hyperlipidemia are actually secondary results of a different disease like diabetes or cushings disease. Obesity combined with stress of some type is one of the major factors leading to the hyperlipidemia. Other factors include hormonal imbalances, or losing weight to rapidly. Because of this sudden weight loss, or stress, the body hormones mistakenly think that the donkey is starving and causes the release of large amounts of fat that have been stored in the body cells. Due to the large amounts of fat in the blood stream, the brain also releases another hormone that shuts off the animals appetite.
Prevention and Treatment
In the prevention and treatment of high cholesterol, diet modification is considered by experts to be the cornerstone of therapy. Adjuncts to the prevention and/or treatment of high cholesterol also include a regular exercise regimen, cessation of smoking and excessive alcohol intake, the addition of antioxidants to the diet, and lipid lowering drugs.
Dietary guidelines set forth from the American Heart Association (AHA) to reduce the risk of heart disease and lower total serum cholesterol can be obtained by contacting your local chapter of the AHA. A summary of the AHA and other standard guidelines include:
§ Eating a diet that lowers total calorie intake and reduces total fat and cholesterol intake
§ Limiting total daily fat intake to no more than 30% of total calories
§ Cholesterol intake should be less than 300 milligrams daily
§ Carbohydrate intake should total 55% to 60% of total daily calories
§ Avoid foods high in sugar
§ Fiber intake from foods, not supplements, should total 25 to 30 grams daily
§ Use monosaturated oils such as olive or canola oil
§ Eat five or more servings of fruit and vegetables daily
§ Limit salt intake to six grams a day; limit salt intake to three grams or less for patients with hypertension or diagnosed coronary heart disease
§ Add the antioxidants, vitamin C, beta-carotene and vitamin E, in the recommended amounts, to your diet to help lower homocysteine levels and reverse the effects of oxidized LDL on the system
§ Eat a variety of foods; avoid eating the same foods every day; variation of the foods you eat, allows for a greater intake of the vitamins and minerals the body needs
Advanced Cardiac Specialists (ACS) supports patients in the identification, treatment and prevention of high cholesterol. Serum cholesterol testing, risk reduction counseling, individualized treatment programs and on-site exercise centers staffed by exercise physiologists are the tools used by ACS clinicians for reducing your risk of high cholesterol.
Advanced Cardiac Specialists cares about your good health. Detection, prevention and treatment of high cholesterol are only one of the ways in which we show you how to more proactively manage your health care.
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