Hyperlipidemia (High Cholesterol)

What is cholesterol?

Cholesterol is a substance found in blood. Everyone has some. It is needed for good health. But people sometimes have too much cholesterol.

Compared with people with normal cholesterol, people with high cholesterol have a higher risk of heart attack, ѕtrοke, and other health problems. The higher your cholesterol, the higher your risk of these problems.

Are there different types of cholesterol?

Yes, there are a few different types. If you get a cholesterol test, you might hear your doctor or nurse talk about:

• Total cholesterol
• LDL cholesterol – Some people call this the “bad” cholesterol. That’s because having high LDL levels raises your risk of heart attack, strоke, and other health problems.
• HDL cholesterol – Some people call this the “good” cholesterol. That’s because people with high HDL levels tend to have a lower risk of heart attack, ѕtrοke, and other health problems.
• Non-HDL cholesterol – Non-HDL cholesterol is your total cholesterol minus your HDL cholesterol.
• Triglycerides – Triglycerides are not cholesterol. They are another type of fat. But they often get measured when cholesterol is measured. (Having high triglycerides also seems to increase the risk of heart attack and ѕtrоke.)

What should my numbers be?

Ask your doctor or nurse what your numbers should be. Different people need different goals.

In general, people who do not already have heart disease should aim for:

• Total cholesterol below 200
• LDL cholesterol below 130, or much lower if they are at risk of heart attack or stroke
• HDL cholesterol above 60
• Non-HDL cholesterol below 160, or lower if they are at risk of heart attack or ѕtrοke
• Triglycerides below 150

Remember, though, that many people who cannot meet these goals still have a low risk of heart attack and strоkе.

What should I do if I have high cholesterol?

Ask your doctor what your overall risk of heart attack and ѕtrоkе is. Just having high cholesterol is not always a reason to worry. Having high cholesterol is just one of many things that can increase your risk of heart attack and strоkе.

Other things that increase your risk include:

• Smoking
• High blood pressure
• Having a parent or sibling who got heart disease at a young age – Young, in this case, means younger than 55 for males and younger than 65 for females.
• A diet that is not heart healthy – A “heart-healthy” diet includes lots of fruits and vegetables, fiber, and healthy fats (like those found in fish, nuts, and certain oils). It also means limiting sugar and unhealthy fats.
• Older age

If you are at high risk of heart attack and stroke, having high cholesterol is a problem. But if you are at low risk, high cholesterol might not need treatment.

Should I take medicine to lower cholesterol?

Not everyone who has high cholesterol needs medicines. Your doctor or nurse will decide if you need them based on your age, family history, and other health concerns.

There are many different medicines used to lower cholesterol. Some help your body make less cholesterol. Some keep your body from absorbing cholesterol from foods. Some help your body get rid of cholesterol faster. The medicines most often used to treat high cholesterol are called “statins.”

You should probably take a statin if you:

• Already had a heart attack or ѕtrοkе
• Have known heart disease
• Have diabetes
• Have a condition called “peripheral artery disease,” which makes it painful to walk, and happens when the arteries in your legs get clogged with fatty deposits
• Have an “abdominal aortic aneurysm,” which is a widening of the main artery in the belly

Most people with any of the conditions listed above should take a statin no matter what their cholesterol level is. If your doctor or nurse prescribes a statin, it’s important to keep taking it. The medicine might not make you feel any different. But it can help prevent heart attack, ѕtrоke, and death.

If your doctor or nurse recommends taking medicine to help lower your cholesterol, make sure that you know what it is called. Follow all the instructions for how to take it. For example, some medicines work better when you take them in the evening. Some need to be taken with food.

Tell your doctor or nurse if your medicine causes any side effects that bother you. They might be able to switch you to a different medicine.