What is hyperlipidemia

Hyperlipidemia is actually a very dangerous disease. I believe that everyone has heard a lot about diseases caused by hyperlipidemia in life. For example, atherosclerosis and myocardial infarction in the elderly are very likely caused by hyperlipidemia. Therefore, whether you are old or young, you should know some relevant knowledge about hyperlipidemia, so that you can find the correct countermeasures and treatment when someone around you develops hyperlipidemia.

1. What is hyperlipidemia?

Hyperlipidemia refers to a condition in which one or more lipids in plasma are higher than normal due to abnormal fat metabolism or operation. It can manifest as a hypermetabolic disease with hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, or both (mixed hyperlipidemia). It can promote the occurrence and development of atherosclerosis, which can cause coronary artery diseases such as myocardial infarction, and can also cause cerebrovascular accidents due to cerebral arteriosclerosis.

2. Types of hyperlipidemia: primary hyperlipidemia and secondary hyperlipidemia

Primary hyperlipidemia refers to hyperlipidemia that is not caused by other diseases and may be related to congenital genetic diseases or acquired eating habits, lifestyle and other natural environmental factors. It is a hereditary lipid metabolism disease. Such as familial hypercholesterolemia, simple obesity, etc. Secondary hyperlipidemia refers to elevated plasma cholesterol and/or triglyceride levels caused by certain systemic diseases or drugs, with or without decreased plasma high-density lipoprotein concentrations. There are many diseases that can cause disorders in plasma lipoprotein metabolism. Clinically, we often see them in poorly controlled diabetes, hypothyroidism, drinking, nephrotic syndrome, dialysis, kidney transplantation, biliary obstruction, oral contraceptives, etc. Therefore, for every patient with hyperlipidemia, fasting blood sugar, thyroid function and kidney function should be measured to rule out these three types of diseases first. In addition, there are many drugs that can also affect plasma lipoprotein metabolism, among which antihypertensive drugs have the greatest impact.

3.What are the dangers of hyperlipidemia?

1. The increase of cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein in the blood is often positively correlated with the incidence of coronary heart disease.

2. Triggering atherosclerosis Lipid deposition in the vascular endothelium causes atherosclerosis. Excessive plasma triglycerides can lead to a tendency for blood clotting, further promoting the formation and development of arteriosclerosis.

3. Induce acute myocardial infarction Acute myocardial infarction can occur, especially after coronary artery bypass grafting, when the transplanted blood vessels are more prone to blockage, aggravating ischemic myocardium and causing serious arrhythmias.

4. Inducing cerebrovascular atherosclerosis The development of cerebrovascular atherosclerosis is 10 years later than that of coronary artery disease. The occurrence of cerebrovascular atherosclerosis is related to plasma cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, high-density lipoprotein, intermediate-density lipoprotein and very low-density lipoprotein. High-density lipoprotein has a protective effect on the arterial wall, while elevated low-density lipoprotein and very low-density lipoprotein are often risk factors for cerebrovascular atherosclerosis.

5. The formation of cerebral thrombosis and the occurrence of sequelae of cerebrovascular disease are related to increased serum cholesterol, triglycerides and apolipoprotein B (ApoB), and low levels of high-density lipoprotein.

6. Inducing cerebral hemorrhage Cerebral hemorrhage is negatively correlated with increased cholesterol in plasma, that is, low cholesterol is prone to cerebral hemorrhage. This may be because of the simultaneous protein malnutrition, which makes the arterial wall fragile and prone to necrosis, causing the cerebral arterioles to rupture and bleed when the blood pressure is high.

7. Causes stroke: Increased cholesterol often leads to atherosclerosis of the extracranial arteries, carotid arteries, and basilar arteries. Increased triglycerides lead to sclerosis of intracranial arterioles, making stroke or myocardial infarction more likely to occur. Blood lipids often drop temporarily after a stroke or myocardial infarction occurs.