Hypercholesterolemia

Hypercholesterolemia – an increase in cholesterol levels in the blood. Usually hypercholesterolemia affects the body silently until symptoms of atherosclerosis progression occur. Hypercholesterolemia can complicate with myocardial infarction, ischemic heart disease, sudden death, ischemic stroke, erectile dysfunction, peripheral vascular disease, acute limb ischemia. The increase in blood cholesterol levels is due to a sedentary lifestyle, smoking, consumption of saturated fats, trans fatty acids, and cholesterol-rich products. The risk of developing hypercholesterolemia increases with diabetes, abdominal obesity, hypothyroidism, nephrotic syndrome, liver diseases. It is diagnosed by performing a blood test. Treatment involves lifestyle changes, diet modification, encouraging patients to quit smoking, be more physically active, prescribing cholesterol-lowering medications (statins), nicotine substitutes, and other pharmacotherapeutic measures.

Source | Author Doctor Nikas Samuolis, reviewed by Prof. Virginijus Šapoka | Vilnius University | Faculty of Medicine | Head of the Department of Internal Medicine, Family Medicine, and Oncology