A healthy diet and a good exercise regimen go a long way towards maintaining good health. When health care professionals recommend this combination they’re usually trying to keep dangerous diseases at arm’s length. Hyperlipidemia, for example, is a disease which can be caused by life style choices. Likewise, healthier choices can help prevent it. People living with familial hypercholesterolemia, however, are more susceptible. Keep reading to learn more, or follow the original story here.
Many people are aware of cholesterol. It’s a fatty protein produced by the liver. Food labels often boast of containing no, or low cholesterol. Not many people, however, are aware of hyperlipidemia. It is one of the diseases mentioned above which can be brought on by poor diet and a lack of physical exercise.
In the terms of Dr. Evarste Ntaganda, in-charge of cardiovascular diseases at Rwanda Biomedical Center, hyperlipidemia is caused by an excess of cholesterol in the blood stream.
And that’s where things get slightly more complicated. Really, there’s two types of cholesterol: HDL, and LDL. HDL stands for high density lipoprotein. HDL is typically considered good in the right amounts because it carries extra cholesterol back with it to the liver where they are processed. LDL, or low density lipoprotein, is what most people refer to as bad cholesterol.
Some cholesterol is natural. It is simply extra fats (or lipids) in the blood. The body controls for this. The problem truly occurs because people unknowingly consume large amounts of LDL in unhealthy foods. This allows for excess cholesterol to buildup in the bloodstream.
While unhealthy diet, and obesity can both cause buildups of cholesterol, it should be noted that genetic factors play a role as well. In some cases, as with familial hypercholesterolemia, patients are naturally prone to diseases like hyperlipidemia. Other such causes include type 2 diabetes and underactive thyroid.
Preventing hyperlipidemia can be tricky. One reason for this is that it does not show symptoms early on. By the time it is diagnosed, it may be too late to do much about it. The most common thing experts suggest to be aware of is high blood pressure.
Preventative measures, however, go a long way. Staying away from trans fats is a great first step. Replacing saturated fats with unsaturated fats is another big step against hyperlipidemia. Both will reduce total blood cholesterol and the presence of LDLs. Other helpful dietary measures include the addition of fiber-rich foods, and limiting consumption of alcohol.
People with familial hypercholesteremia, however, may not be able to avoid hyperlipidemia with simple dieting. When genetic causes, like familial hypercholesterolemia, are involved, special medications may be necessary to reduce the concentration of lipids and fats within the bloodstream.
