Treatment FAQ

how to choose treatment for hyperlipidemia

by Elroy Wisoky Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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Apr 01, 2022 · Primary treatment is lifestyle modification: weight control, low-fat, low-cholesterol diet, regular exercise, smoking cessation and (in selected patients) alcohol restriction.

Can you cure hyperlipidemia?

Nov 11, 2020 · Eating a heart-healthy diet. From a dietary standpoint, the best way to lower your cholesterol is reduce your intake of saturated fat and trans fat. The American Heart …

What are the side effect of hyperlipidemia?

Oct 27, 2021 · Lifestyle changes are the first line of treatment for hyperlipidemia. If these are insufficient, your doctor may prescribe medications to help manage your high cholesterol. …

Is there cure for hyperlipidemia?

Before considering hypolipemic therapy, secondary hyperlipidemias should be excluded. In those cases, treatment should be directed to the primary disease(s) for the solution of the …

What is hyperlipidemia and how it is diagnosed?

Hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol) means your blood has too many lipids (fats) in it. These can add up and lead to blockages in your blood vessels. This is why high cholesterol can put you at …

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What is the drug of choice for hyperlipidemia?

HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitors (Statins) Statins are the most commonly prescribed lipid-lowering agents in the United States. They are generally effective, are supported by favorable outcome studies and have relatively few adverse effects.Jun 1, 2000

What is first line treatment for hyperlipidemia?

HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, or statins, are the recommended first-line therapy for most patients. These are the most prescribed drugs in the world and are considered the most effective lipid-lowering agents available, both in lowering LDL-C levels and in the prevention of CV events.

What is the first line drug of choice for a majority of patients when treating dyslipidemia?

Because of their once-a-day dosing, minimal side effects, and efficacy, the statins are considered a first-line drug therapy for dyslipidemias. The fibrates work preferentially on the liver to reduce triglyceride synthesis and very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) production.

Which of the following is the first drug of choice to lower hyperlipidemia?

There are currently seven HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins) approved for lowering cholesterol levels and they are the first line drugs for treating lipid disorders and can lower LDL-C levels by as much as 60%. Statins also are effective in reducing triglyceride levels in patients with hypertriglyceridemia.Mar 30, 2021

How do you diagnose hyperlipidemia?

Hyperlipidemia has no symptoms, so the only way to detect it is to have your doctor request a blood test called a lipid panel or a lipid profile. Your doctor will use your lipid panel to make a hyperlipidemia diagnosis. This test determines your cholesterol levels.

When should LDL be treated?

Your health care provider may prescribe medicine if: You have already had a heart attack or stroke, or you have peripheral arterial disease. Your LDL cholesterol level is 190 mg/dL or higher. You are 40–75 years old with diabetes and an LDL cholesterol level of 70 mg/dL or higher.

What is the difference between hyperlipidemia and dyslipidemia?

Hyperlipidemia refers to high levels of LDL or triglycerides. Dyslipidemia can refer to levels that are either higher or lower than the normal range for those blood fats.

What is the first line statin?

Atorvastatin is the first-line choice of statin for most patients. (also see rosuvastatin: bpac.org.nz/2022/rosuvastatin.aspx). If it is not tolerated, consider lowering the dose or changing to another statin (see: “An approach to managing statin-associated symptoms”).May 3, 2021

What is a good LDL and HDL level mg dL LDL HDL?

A total cholesterol score of 200 mg/dL is desirable. Aim for an LDL ("bad") cholesterol level of 100 mg/dL or lower, and an HDL ("good") cholesterol level of 60 mg/dL or higher.Apr 23, 2021

What is atorvastatin used for?

Atorvastatin is in a class of medications called HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins). It works by slowing the production of cholesterol in the body to decrease the amount of cholesterol that may build up on the walls of the arteries and block blood flow to the heart, brain, and other parts of the body.Jul 20, 2021

What is atorvastatin 80 mg used for?

Atorvastatin is used along with a proper diet to help lower "bad" cholesterol and fats (such as LDL, triglycerides) and raise "good" cholesterol (HDL) in the blood. It belongs to a group of drugs known as "statins." It works by reducing the amount of cholesterol made by the liver.

What is the new injection for cholesterol?

FDA has approved Leqvio (inclisiran) injection as a treatment to be used along with diet and maximally tolerated statin therapy for adults with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH) or clinical atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) who require additional lowering of low-density lipoprotein ...Dec 22, 2021

How to lower cholesterol?

To be smarter about what you eat, pay more attention to food labels. As a starting point: 1 Know your fats. Knowing which fats raise LDL cholesterol and which ones don’t is key to lowering your risk of heart disease. 2 Cook for lower cholesterol. A heart-healthy eating plan can help you manage your blood cholesterol level.

What does it mean when you have too much cholesterol?

One type of hyperlipidemia, hypercholesterolemia, means you have too much non-HDL cholesterol and LDL (bad) cholesterol in your blood. This condition increases fatty deposits in arteries and the risk of blockages.

How old do you have to be to have your cholesterol checked?

If you’re 20 years or older, have your cholesterol tested and work with your doctor to adjust your cholesterol levels as needed. Often, changing behaviors can help bring your numbers into line. If lifestyle changes alone don’t improve your cholesterol levels, medication may be prescribed. Lifestyle changes include:

Does smoking lower cholesterol?

Smoking also compounds the risk from other risk factors for heart disease, such as high blood pressure and diabetes. By quitting, smokers can lower their LDL cholesterol and increase their HDL cholesterol levels. It can also help protect their arteries. Nonsmokers should avoid exposure to secondhand smoke.

What is a dash diet?

Many diets fit this general description. For example, the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) eating plan promoted by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute as well as diets suggested by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the American Heart Association are heart-healthy approaches.

Home Remedies and Lifestyle

No matter where you are in your health journey, living a healthy life is the best way to limit your risk of developing heart disease. Limiting your saturated fat and trans fat intake and eating a balanced diet with fruits and vegetables is a great place to start.

Over-the-Counter (OTC) Therapies

Over-the-counter medications and supplements are becoming a common adjunctive therapy in cholesterol management. Adjunctive means it is used together with the primary treatment, which is lifestyle changes and perhaps prescription medication.

Prescriptions

A simple blood test can reveal whether your cholesterol and triglycerides fall into a healthy range. Optimal levels for triglycerides are less than 150 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL), or less than 1.7 millimoles per liter (mmol/L). 5

Surgeries and Specialist-Driven Procedures

For those with genetic conditions such as familial hypercholesterolemia (FH), following a strict heart-healthy diet and taking medication may not adequately lower LDL levels. This small subset of people may have to undergo lipoprotein apheresis—a blood-filtering treatment that removes LDL from the blood and returns it back to the person. 11

Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM)

The following supplements have been proven to help improve your cholesterol levels. They are often used as adjunctive medications to statin therapy. Some examples include:

Summary

Hyperlipidemia is treated by diet and lifestyle changes. If these do not reduce cholesterol and triglycerides to an acceptable level, medication such as a statin may be prescribed as well. Supplements may be used as an additional measure.

A Word From Verywell

Elevated lipid levels are bad for your blood vessels. If left unchecked, it may lead to atherosclerosis, which can morph into full-blown heart disease.

How to tell if you have hyperlipidemia?

Hyperlipidemia has no symptoms, so the only way to detect it is to have your doctor perform a blood test called a lipid panel or a lipid profile. This test determines your cholesterol levels. Your doctor will take a sample of your blood and send it to a lab for testing, then get back to you with a full report. Your report will show your levels of:

Can hyperlipidemia cause heart disease?

People with untreated hyperlipidemia have a greater chance of getting coronary heart disease than the general population. Heart disease is a condition in which plaque builds up inside the coronary (heart) arteries. Hardening of the arteries, called atherosclerosis, happens when plaque builds up on the walls of arteries. Over time, plaque buildup narrows the arteries and can block them completely, preventing normal blood flow. This can lead to heart attack, stroke, or other problems.

How are triglycerides made?

Triglycerides are made when your body stores the extra calories it doesn’t need for energy. They also come directly from your diet in foods such as red meat and whole-fat dairy. A diet high in refined sugar, fructose, and alcohol raises triglycerides.

Does alcohol raise cholesterol?

They also come directly from your diet in foods such as red meat and whole-fat dairy. A diet high in refined sugar, fructose, and alcohol raises triglycerides. Cholesterol is produced naturally in your liver because every cell in your body uses it.

Does alcohol raise triglycerides?

A diet high in refined sugar, fructose, and alcohol raises triglycerides. Cholesterol is produced naturally in your liver because every cell in your body uses it. Similar to triglycerides, cholesterol is also found in fatty foods like eggs, red meat, and cheese. Hyperlipidemia is more commonly known as high cholesterol.

Where is cholesterol produced?

Cholesterol is produced naturally in your liver because every cell in your body uses it. Similar to triglycerides, cholesterol is also found in fatty foods like eggs, red meat, and cheese. Hyperlipidemia is more commonly known as high cholesterol.

What happens if you have too much cholesterol?

When you have too much cholesterol in your blood, it can build up on the walls of your blood vessels and form plaque. Over time, plaque deposits grow larger and begin to clog up your arteries, which can lead to heart disease, heart attack, and stroke.

What is the best treatment for myocardial infarction?

Omega-3 fatty acids may be a good alternative after myocardial infarction for patients who cannot tolerate statins. Fibrates and niacin have not been shown to reduce all-cause mortality in secondary prevention, but may be useful adjuncts when statins alone cannot adequately control lipid levels.

When should statins be used?

Statin therapy should be used in the primary prevention of cardiovascular events in high-risk patients. Statin therapy should be initiated in patients with a history of cardiovascular disease or the risk equivalent. High-dose statin therapy should be initiated in patients with acute coronary syndrome.

Does statin therapy reduce mortality?

A Cochrane review concluded that statin use did not reduce mortality in patients with peripheral arterial disease. 50 However, using statins in these patients increased maximal walking distance by 499 ft (152 m) and pain-free walking distance by 295 ft (90 m). Lipid therapy did not change ankle-brachial index scores. Statin therapy for patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms has not been shown to change the rate of expansion, but patients who are taking statins at the time of a rupture have a lower mortality rate (NNT = 3.5). 51, 52

How far can you walk with statins?

50 However, using statins in these patients increased maximal walking distance by 499 ft (152 m) and pain-free walking distance by 295 ft (90 m).

Does statin help with stroke?

A Cochrane review of statins for secondary prevention of cerebrovascular disease reported that statins reduced recurrent strokes (NNT = 76), but not all-cause mortality. 47 Other lipid-lowering medications, including fibrates, increased the risk of subsequent strokes. In an acute setting, initiating statin therapy may reduce stroke severity and disability, with data supporting 40 to 80 mg of atorvastatin daily over 20 to 80 mg of simvastatin daily. 48 However, initiating high-dose atorvastatin after ischemic stroke has been shown to increase the risk of hemorrhagic stroke (NNH = 106 over five years of treatment), while reducing recurrent ischemic strokes (NNT = 42 over five years of treatment) and not affecting overall mortality. 49 Thus, initiating a moderate-dose statin is an option to reduce the risk of recurrent strokes.

How to reduce hyperlipidemia?

1. Change Your Diet. A high-fat diet full of inflammatory foods can worsen or increase your risk for hyperlipidemia. ( 4) That’s why you want to eat anti-inflammatory foods and limited your consumption of damaging processed foods.

Can a high fat diet cause hyperlipidemia?

A high-fat diet full of inflammatory foods can worsen or increase your risk for hyperlipidemia. ( 4) That’s why you want to eat anti-inflammatory foods and limited your consumption of damaging processed foods.

Is hyperlipidemia a chronic disease?

It’s a chronic condition but can be reversed in most cases through healthy eating and regular exercise. Hyperlipidemia is a common condition associated with metabolic syndrome, diabetes and obesity, as well as being a cause of coronary artery disease, peripheral arterial disease and stroke.

Does red yeast rice help with hyperlipidemia?

This suggested red yeast rice can treat obesity and hyperlipidemia. ( 6) 4. Niacin (1,500 milligrams daily) Niacin (vitamin B3) reduces LDL cholesterol by 25 percent and increases good cholesterol by 35 percent, which is why you want to include niacin foods in your diet.

What is the difference between hyperlipidemia and hyperlipidemia?

Conversely, hyperlipidemia develops when you have high levels of lipids (fats) in your blood. Having high levels of lipids in your blood can narrow or block your arteries.

What is the most common cause of hyperlipidemia?

Hyperlipidemia is usually the result of unhealthy lifestyle habits like smoking, poor diet and physical inactivity. Women older than 55 and men older than 45 are also more likely to be diagnosed with hyperlipidemia. ( 18)

What is familial combined hyperlipidemia?

kidney disease. Familial combined hyperlipidemia is an inherited disorder that causes high cholesterol and high levels of triglycerides in the blood. According to a study published in Human Molecular Genetics, familial combined hyperlipidemia affects 1 percent to 2 percent of the population. ( 19)

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Home Remedies and Lifestyle

Over-The-Counter (OTC) Therapies

Prescriptions

Surgeries and Specialist-Driven Procedures

Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Summary

  • Hyperlipidemia is treated by diet and lifestyle changes. If these do not reduce cholesterol and triglycerides to an acceptable level, medication such as a statin may be prescribed as well. Supplements may be used as an additional measure.
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A Word from Verywell

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