Blood lipids refer to the amount of fat in the blood, which usually includes cholesterol and triglycerides. Among them, triglycerides are involved in energy metabolism in the body, while cholesterol is mainly used for the synthesis of cell plasma membranes, steroid hormones and bile acids.
When the body consumes too much lipids from food, or when the endogenous synthesis of HDL cholesterol in the liver is too low, it causes a series of harmful diseases called hyperlipidemia. Its clinical typing and diagnosis are as follows.
1, hypercholesterolemia: total cholesterol > 5.72 mmol/L.
2. Hypertriglyceridemia: triglycerides > 1.70 mmol/L.
3. Mixed hyperlipidemia: total cholesterol > 5.72 mmol/L and triglycerides > 1.70 mmol/L.
4.Low HDL: HDL cholesterol <0.91mmol/L.
I. Causes of hyperlipidemia
Hyperlipidemia can be divided into primary hyperlipidemia and secondary hyperlipidemia, of which the former is mainly related to family inheritance, while the latter is mainly caused by acquired factors, such as disease factors, especially metabolic disorders, poor dietary habits, smoking, alcoholism, taking specific drugs, lack of exercise, and obesity. Most people do not have obvious symptoms after the appearance of hyperlipidemia, which can be detected by blood biochemical tests during physical examination. If the blood lipids increase to a certain degree, patients may show dizziness, headache, blurred eyes, insomnia and other manifestations.
Second, the high-risk group of hyperlipidemia
In general, patients with a family history of hyperlipidemia, as well as patients with hypertension, diabetes, fatty liver, obesity, long-term smokers and alcoholics are prone to suffer from hyperlipidemia. In addition, middle-aged and elderly people (men over 45 years old, women over 55 years old), postmenopausal women, people who lack exercise, people with long-term high-fat and high-sugar diets, and people with cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases are all at high risk of hyperlipidemia.
Third, what tests should be done for hyperlipidemia
If hyperlipidemia is suspected, the following tests should be done to clarify the condition.
1.Conventional consultation: including family history, personal history, dietary habits, exercise habits and other conditions.
2.Physical examination: such as height, weight, BMI, etc.
3, laboratory tests: blood routine, lipid quadruple, apolipoprotein determination.
4. Other tests: uric acid, blood glucose, metabolic function measurement, electrocardiogram, etc.
D. Hazards of hyperlipidemia and prevention
Hyperlipidemia can lead to atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease, acute pancreatitis, liver injury, hypertension, stroke, and even sudden death in serious cases. Its prevention and control measures are as follows.
1.Lifestyle intervention: such as low-salt and low-fat diet, quit smoking and limit alcohol, increase exercise and maintain emotional stability.
2.Control of risk factors: monitoring blood lipid, blood pressure and blood sugar levels, as well as reasonable weight loss.
3, drug treatment: if the lifestyle intervention is not satisfactory, lipid-lowering drugs can be used under the guidance of a doctor, such as statins, betablockers, and niacin and resin lipid-lowering drugs.