Hypercholesterolemia

Hypercholesterolemia, which literally means high cholesterol, is a condition wherein the cholesterol level in the blood is high. Although not an illness by itself, it signifies an imbalance of the metabolism, and can be a contributory factor to various other diseases, especially arteriosclerosis. It has a close association with high levels of lipoproteins, known as hyperlipoproteinemia and high levels of lipids, known as hyperlipidemia.

Cholesterol is a kind of waxy matter that is found in the body, which is required for its proper functioning. The normal levels of blood cholesterol should range between 140-200 mg/dL. When the levels range between 200-240 mg/dL, it is indicative of a moderate rate of risk, whereas anything above 240 mg/dL is regarded as hypercholesterolemia and highly risky. Although the total level of blood cholesterol is an important factor, it does not reveal everything.

Basically, there are two chief kinds of cholesterol: HDL, or high density lipoproteins, which is regarded as the beneficial cholesterol; and LDL, or low density lipoproteins, which is regarded as the harmful cholesterol. A third kind of fatty matter that occurs in the blood is triglycerides. Although it is not known exactly what part they play in heart disease, however, it seems that when there are high levels of triglycerides, it results in the good cholesterol level dropping. When an individual is affected by hypercholesterolemia, it is due to the imbalance of these three kinds of lipids. High cholesterol, or hypercholesterolemia, occurs when LDL levels are high along with the HDL levels being low or in the normal range, and the levels of triglycerides being high or normal.

What are the Symptoms of Hypercholesterolemia?

In its early stages there are no symptoms of high cholesterol, which is why it is important to blood tests done routinely in order to detect it early. However, when high cholesterol is in its advanced stages, it may cause the following symptoms:

• Xanthoma, wherein the tendons get thickened due cholesterol accumulating
• Arcus senilis, whitish discoloration in the peripheral part of the cornea
• Xanthelasma palpabrum, yellowish discoloration around the eyelids
• Acute pain in the abdomen due to pancreatitis, which occurs when there are deposits of triglycerides in the pancreas
• An enlargement of the spleen and liver, which can be felt on examination by a physician
• Pain in the chest or heart attack, or strokes, due to cholesterol building up in the walls of the blood vessels
• Pain in the calf while walking, because of blocked or narrowed blood vessels

What are the Causes of High Cholesterol?

Dietary Factors

• Saturated Fats: According to some dietary experts, saturated fat in the diet can lead to high cholesterol levels in the blood. Therefore, it is thought that lowering the saturated fat in the diet can help in lowering high blood cholesterol levels.
• Trans Fatty Acids: According to recent research, trans fatty acids, produced by the hydrogenation of unsaturated fatty acids, which is used in processed foods, commercially baked foods, fried foods, and partially hydrogenated vegetable oils, is one the most important risk factors for hypercholesterolemia.
• Carbohydrates: There is increasing evidence that a high carbohydrate diet, particularly comprising of refined carbohydrates, can lead to increasing LDL and triglyceride levels, lowering HDL levels in the blood, thus resulting in hypercholesterolemia.

Hereditary hypercholesterolemia, which is a rare form of the condition, can run in families, where the person affected by it does not have the ability to metabolize cholesterol properly.

Some of the other factors that can lead to high cholesterol levels are an increase in body weight and the lack of exercise, or physical activity. It has been found that exercising and weight loss can help in increasing HDL and lowering LDL and triglycerides in the blood.