Hyperlipidemia, or high cholesterol, is a dangerous chronic illness that can lead to many health issues, like a stroke. Vonda Reives, FNP-C, and Kristin Hockersmith, FNP, provide ongoing monitoring and treatment of hyperlipidemia at North Moore Family Practice, located in Robbins, North Carolina. The practice helps you understand your cholesterol levels and provides counseling and medication therapy. To make an appointment with the team, call the office in Robbins today, or book a consultation on the website.
Hyperlipidemia is a term that encompasses high levels of triglycerides or fats in your bloodstream. That also includes cholesterol and other unhealthy fats.
Hyperlipidemia can be passed down through families, but it is also the result of unhealthy lifestyle habits and poor dietary choices.
High cholesterol is one of the more common types of hyperlipidemia that happens when your LDL, or bad cholesterol, is too high. You also have HDL, which is the better form of cholesterol. HDL helps to lower the levels of LDL in your blood.
You need cholesterol, a fatty substance, to make hormones and digest your food. However, all the cholesterol you need is made in your liver.
When you eat a diet high in certain types of fats and cholesterol, it adds to the cholesterol you already have, often leading to hyperlipidemia.
Hyperlipidemia leads to clogged arteries. The excess cholesterol sticks to the inside of your blood vessels, forming a substance called plaque.
Over time, the plaque continues to build up, causing your arteries to narrow and become blocked. That can lead to a number of serious health issues, including:
Hyperlipidemia can also lead to sudden cardiac arrest and death in severe cases. This cardiac arrest can occur when your condition goes untreated for long periods -- a piece of the plaque breaks off, causing a blockage in your brain or heart.
The good news is that you can manage high cholesterol and hyperlipidemia through a few lifestyle changes. Prevention strategies to decrease your cholesterol and lipids include:
You also want to incorporate exercise and physical activity into your daily routine. That helps your cholesterol levels and keeps your heart, brain, and lungs healthy.
In some cases, you can’t fully prevent hyperlipidemia. If this happens, the team at North Moore Family Practice helps you manage your cholesterol levels. There are many medications that help you lower your lipid levels to a normal range. That helps decrease your risk of serious complications.
To book a consultation with the team, call the office in Robbins today, or book an appointment on the website.