Hyperlipidaemia

Having hyperlipidaemia alone won’t make the person sick unless fat cholesterol deposits in blood vessels restrict blood flow. There are no visible symptoms of hyperlipidaemia. It is detected only through a blood test. However, people with this condition can get xanthomas (fatty plaque on the skin) and corneal arcus (rings around the eye iris).

There are several hyperlipidaemia causes which are:

• Obesity
• Sedentary life
• Regular smoking
• Alcohol consumption
• High stress
• Genetically prone to high cholesterol
• Eating food that contain saturated or trans fats

Certain types of medication such as steroids, diuretics, beta-blockers, and hormonal birth control are known to cause fluctuation in cholesterol levels. Some medical conditions are also likely to cause fluctuations in cholesterol levels. These conditions are:

• Hypothyroidism
• Primary biliary cholangitis
• Chronic kidney disease
• Lupus
• Sleep apnoea
• Diabetes
• Liver illness
• Pancreas illness
• Multiple myeloma

Lifestyle factors also play a significant role in aggravating hyperlipidaemia. Some of these factors are: 

• Not eating a healthy diet
• Family history of high cholesterol levels
• Being overweight
• High alcohol consumption 
• Smoking 

The healthcare professional will diagnose hyperlipidaemia in the following ways:

• A physical evaluation
• Assessing the medical history of the patient
• Lab testing to check cholesterol levels in the blood
• Family history
• Calculating a ten-year atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk score

A blood test (lipid panel) is ordered to identify the cholesterol numbers which involve types of cholesterol and the best number:

• Total cholesterol - Should be less than 200 mg/dL
• Bad cholesterol (LDL) - Less than 100 mg/dL
• Good cholesterol (HDL) - At least 60 mg/dL
• Triglycerides level - Less than 150 mg/dL

Other tests are also ordered to diagnose hyperlipidaemia, which include:

• Coronary calcium scan
• Lipoprotein
• Apolipoprotein B
• High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP)

When it comes to hyperlipidaemia treatment, some people can improve their cholesterol numbers with minor lifestyle changes. Others may need medications.

Lifestyle changes

Lifestyle changes that should be followed are:

• Quit smoking
• Exercise regularly 
• Maintaining sleep hygiene - get seven to eight hours of sleep each night
• Eating a healthy diet with plenty of green vegetables and fruits
• Reduce alcohol consumption 
• Maintaining a healthy body weight

When lifestyle changes aren’t working well to treat hyperlipidaemia, then medications are recommended to the patient. Statins are the first option for hyperlipidaemia.

Here are common medications given to lower the levels of cholesterol and triglyceride:

Statin medication options:

• Pitavastatin (Livalo)
• Rosuvastatin (Crestor)
• Simvastatin (Zocor)
• Fluvastatin (Lescol XL)
• Lovastatin (Altoprev)
• Pravastatin (Pravachol)
• Atorvastatin (Lipitor)

Bile-acid-binding resins are also given, which include colestipol (Colestid), colesevelam (Welchol), and cholestyramine (Prevalite). Other medication options used to treat hyperlipidaemia are:

• Omega-3 fatty acid supplements
• Cholesterol-lowering supplements
• Cholesterol absorption inhibitors like ezetimibe
• Fibrates such as fenofibrate or gemfibrozil
• Niacin (Niacor)
• Injectable substitutes to statins like evolocumab (Repatha) and alirocumab (Praluent)

BM Birla Heart Research Centre in Kolkata is one of the best cardiac hospitals specialising in cardiac healthcare services. We have a team of cardiologists and cardiac surgeons holding decades of experience. We are an NABH-accredited hospital and are equipped with advanced technological equipment. If you have been diagnosed with high cholesterol levels, make sure to consult our healthcare experts. Our team will diagnose the condition and offer treatment suitable for you.