Hypercholesterolemia is an increase in blood cholesterol above values considered normal for the general population. The value from which it is considered pathological and that is also an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease is 250 mg / dl.
Cholesterol is a type of fat found in the blood as a result of digestion of various foods we consume. This type of fat is transported through the blood attached to proteins called lipoproteins pose. This makes protein binding in the total cholesterol can distinguish two types, one popularly known as bad cholesterol that is that cholesterol is transported from the liver to the tissues and is the part of the plaques of atherosclerosis and its increase is the which is considered to have a better relationship with cardiovascular disease. The other type are known as good cholesterol and that is transported from peripheral tissues to the liver, such is not part of arteriosclerotic plaques and their presence at high levels is considered a protective factor for cardiovascular disease.
Inside there is another type of blood fat whose role as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease is unclear but whose growth is also considered pathological are triglycerides. Values are considered abnormal triglycerides above 200 mg/dl.
In short, the increase in blood fat of any of the previously discussed is called hyperlipidemia or hyperlipidemia, if what is growing is just one type of fat called fat increase, hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia, and if they are augmented the two is called mixed hyperlipidemia.
Why do you have increased cholesterol?
Within hypercholesterolemias distinguish two types: one that primaries are those in which no obvious cause is appreciated, and other high schools where the cause of the increase in cholesterol is due to a disease already known.
In the primaries there are some that are due to genetic deficiencies of proteins that function in cholesterol metabolism, and others, which are the most frequent (85% of total cholesterol), which are known as polygenic diseases that affect 5% of the population. The term polygenic means that apart from a genetic deficiency is not located in a single gene, but several. In these cases other factors act primarily environmental and dietary intake related to dietary cholesterol.
What are the early symptoms which noticable?
Hypercholesterolemia is an asymptomatic disease until there is vascular disease (stroke, angina, etc.). But sometimes called xanthomas may appear that are the result of infiltration of the skin and tendons by cholesterol may be cutaneous or tendinous and are typically in the interdigital areas of hands, buttocks, knees and elbows, if they occur around the eyelids are called xanthelasma, the latter are not pathognomonic of hypercholesterolemia and that can also occur in people with normal cholesterol levels . These two types of skin disorders associated with hypercholesterolemia, appear more frequently in those that are due to a genetic defect is already known, rather than the polygenic nature. Given the importance of this risk factor, using any contact with health services which make an analytical determination should be a serum total cholesterol and triglyceride levels. This determination is advisable to do it once before age 35 in men and women age 45 and then at intervals of 5 or 6 years to 65.
Hypercholesterolemia is, along with hypertension and smoking, major risk factors for one of the leading causes of death in our country that is ischemic heart disease (angina, myocardial infarction), as well as cerebrovascular disease and peripheral vascular disease. This is supported by studies in which there has been a close relationship between high levels of total cholesterol and the occurrence of ischemic heart disease and cardiovascular mortality, and attitudes aimed at reducing cholesterol levels also cause decrease the probability of the pathology. However, the risk conferred any blood cholesterol level also depends on the coexistence of other risk factors such as age, sex, hypertension, diabetes, smoking, etc.. and that when conducting preventive work must also be taken into account.
How to treat hypercholesterolemia?
The treatment of hypercholesterolemia has two parts, one that is hygienic-dietary measures and
one that is drug therapy. These two parts are not exclusive but must be complemented for
cholesterol will lead to normal. However treatment must be individualized for each person, taking into account the presence or absence of other risk factors and associated pathologies.
Hygienic-dietary measures. Try to make a balanced diet is one that provides a number of calories according to energy expenditure that can achieve and maintain weight loss. The diet has to be
rich foods that contain carbohydrates and are mainly vegetable products, pasta, root vegetables, legumes, cereals, etc. .. Total fat must not exceed 30-35% of total calories, and of these the
saturated fats, which are those present in animal fats in butter, margarine, sausages, dairy products and coconut and palm oils (are the constituents of baked goods, cookies, fried, precooked and canned) has no that exceed 10% of total fats, and to be used are monounsaturated fats which are derived from oils
vegetables, particularly olive oil. The diet must be low in cholesterol, not exceeding
300 mg / day. Cholesterol is found in red meat, viscera (liver, kidneys, brains …), yolk
(and its derivatives, custards, mayonnaise), not being recommended greater consumption of 2-3 times the week. The poultry and rabbit meat containing less saturated fat and cholesterol, and white fish or blue should be used to replace red meat dishes. When you eat red meat it is advisable to remove visible fat before cooking it.
Do not ban alcohol, but can allow moderate consumption, 40 g / day for men and 24 g / day for women, roughly corresponding to two glasses of wine a day. We recommend a moderate reduction in salt intake and consumption of whole milk and dairy products as this is one of the largest sources of saturated fats are what we must avoid. It is not advisable, therefore, consumption of whole milk, fatty cheeses, ice cream, cream, butter and derivatives. When cooking is also advisable to use boiled, roasted, grilled and grilled rather than fried food.
The total calorie intake should aim to normalize the weight to help recommended dietary measures the performance of moderate physical exercise, which has seen it can increase good cholesterol for at least 30 minutes over 3 days week.
Dietary recommendations are summarized in Table 1 (Modified from Management in primary care of dyslipidemia. SEMFYC Recommendations 1997).
- hypercholesterolemia
- hypercholesterolemia asymptomatic
- risk factors associated with hypercholesterolemia
- two types hypercholesterolemia
- what diseases are accociated with hypercholesterolemia
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