Dyslipidemia

Dyslipidemia

Dr Mufida Allwaif

Definition:

It is a defect in the metabolism of lipoprotein, which constitutes an increase or decrease in lipoprotein production.  Dyslipidemia is likely to occur due to increased total cholesterol, LDL (poor) low density lipoprotein (bad) and triglyceride concentration, and due to a lack of HDL (HDL) high-density lipoprotein "good" and cholesterol concentration.

Symptoms and signs:

There are no specific symptoms of lipid disorders, but they lead to other conditions which include:

Coronary artery disease, Stroke, arteriosclerosis, Yellow tumor, Dizziness, The arteries of the eye are as white, Numbness or tingling of the skin,  shortness of breath, Cluttered or Abdominal pain

Primary causes: genetic

Secondary causes: Person's lifestyle Frequent sitting with saturated fat and cholesterol intake, diabetes, heavy alcohol intake, chronic kidney disease, underactive thyroid gland, primary gallbladder cirrhosis or other diseases that cause a defect in the production of gallbladder fluid from the liver or may be due to some medications such as:

(thiazides, β-blockers, retinoids, highly active antiretroviral agents, cyclosporine, tacrolimus, estrogen and progestins, and glucocorticoids)

Risk factors: age, family history or because of cigarette smoking.

Complications: heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, or perivascular disease

Analysis and diagnosis: A blood test to check the level of cholesterol is called a fat table or a regular fat report: total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, and triglycerides (a type of fat in the blood, which is the most accurate analysis, when measured it must not eat and drink for 9 to 12 hours before taking the blood sample)

Examination

The fat profile should be taken for all adults aged 20 years and above, and the tests should be every 4 or 6 years and the examination is usually repeated even at the age of eighty. Pediatricians also recommend that all children between the ages of 9 and 11 should undergo a blood test to check for high lipid levels.  Children as young as two years old if a family member or child developed cardiovascular disease as a child.

Lifestyle modifications

30 minutes of exercise or physical activities, food, reduce saturated fat and trans fats,  reduce sugars, increase vegetables and fruits, increase whole grains such as legumes, increase the proportion of monounsaturated and unsaturated fats containing omega-3 fatty acids, stop smoking and ideal Body Mass Index (BMI) below 25

Treatment:

Statins- Bile-acid-binding resins - Cholesterol absorption inhibitors -Injectable medications

For the treatment of high triglycerides: 

Fibrates -Niacin - Omega-3 fatty acid supplements