Dyslipidemia

Dyslipidemia is the medical name for cholesterol problems – sometimes (although not accurately) called “high cholesterol”. Strictly speaking, dyslipidemia is a disorder of metabolism related to lipoprotein. Although called a disorder, it is extremely common in modern society. Dyslipidemia is when the blood test indicates high total cholesterol, high LDL “bad cholesterol”, or low HDL “good cholesterol”. Another word for Dyslipidemia is Hyperlipidemia.

The measurement is done in the plasma portion of the blood. Plasma is the liquid part of the blood, without the red and white cells. You sometimes hear the number called plasma cholesterol or serum cholesterol.

There is no firm number indicating dyslipidemia. If treatment is subjectively deemed to be beneficial, the patient can be said to have dyslipidemia. Treatment options include changes in diet, changes in exercise routines, and medications. Statins are among the medications used to affect dyslipidemia. Other drugs include fibric acids, nicotinic acid, and bile acid sequestrants.

What is high cholesterol and what is normal? Mother Nature has made no firm dividing mark. The medical community has identified certain norms and individual doctors make judgement calls. There is certainly a relationship between lipid levels and risk for heart disease. Even people with normal cholesterol can benefit from statins, which is one reason some advocate wider usage.

When you have your blood taken and a lipid profile done at the doctor's office, they usually measure total cholesterol (TC), high-density cholesterol (HDL), low-density cholesterol (LDL), and triglycerides.

These are the five major families of blood (plasma) lipoproteins:

• chylomicrons
• very low-density lipoproteins (VLDL)
• intermediate-density lipoproteins (IDL)
• low-density lipoproteins (LDL)
• high-density lipoproteins (HDL)
  
  

  A recent study found statins continue to protect people from heart disease for years after they stope taking them. The study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found the chances of heart attack were 25 percent lower 10 years after people took statins.

Progress in dyslipidemia.