What is hypercholesterolemia?
Hypercholesterolemia is a diagnosis that means that low-density lipoprotein (bad cholesterol) has accumulated in the blood in excessive amounts.
In a large percentage of clinical cases, it is cured by a healthy lifestyle (changing the diet and exercising). In other cases, drug therapy is required that lowers cholesterol levels to normal.
With bad cholesterol, fat accumulates in the arteries (atherosclerosis), which increases the risk of heart attack and stroke. Atherosclerosis is the main cause of cardiovascular disease.
Risk factors are:
- Age;
- High blood pressure;
- Diabetes;
- Deficiency of good cholesterol.
Hypercholesterolemia is very common, for example, one in every 20 people has this diagnosis.
Many patients do not have symptoms, but in severe hypercholesterolemia, cholesterol deposits (xanthelasma) accumulate on the skin of the eyelids. Cholesterol deposits can also be found in connective tissues (xanthomas).
Causes of hypercholesterolemia include:
- Genetics;
- A diet high in processed and trans fats;
- Lack of exercise;
- Smoking;
- Obstructive liver disease;
- Diabetes;
- Anorexia nervosa;
- Chronic renal failure;
- Nephrotic syndrome, etc.
Source:
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/23921-hypercholesterolemia
