Imagine you're enjoying a peaceful afternoon when suddenly your buddy** tells you that he's in the hospital with a heart problem. A few days ago, he was full of energy and his life seemed carefree. The doctor's diagnosis was cardiovascular problems caused by high blood lipids. This news shocked you - hyperlipidemia, such an inconspicuous but potentially dangerous disease.
You may ask, is hyperlipidemia really that serious?The answer is yes. Hyperlipidemia is a common blood abnormality that silently damages our health, especially the cardiovascular system. It does not immediately show clinical symptoms, but once it occurs, the consequences can be fatal.
When discussing the topic of hyperlipidemia, we first need to understand its basic concepts. Hyperlipidemia is not a separate condition, but a condition in which the amount of certain lipids in the blood is abnormally elevated. These lipids mainly include cholesterol and triglycerides, which play a variety of important roles in the human body, such as helping cells build cell membranes, produce hormones, etc. However, when these lipids are present in higher than normal levels in the blood, they can lead to health problems.
Hyperlipidemia is an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease. This is because excess blood lipids can build up on the walls of blood vessels, forming plaques that accumulate over time and can lead to narrowing or even blockage of blood vessels. Narrowing or blockage of blood vessels increases the risk of heart disease and stroke. In addition, high blood lipids may also be linked to other health problems, such as pancreatitis and fatty liver.
It is worth mentioning that hyperlipidemia does not always have obvious symptoms. Many times, people don't even know they have hyperlipidemia without having a blood test. That's why regular health check-ups are very important, especially for middle-aged and older adults. With blood tests, dyslipidemia can be detected in time and corresponding measures can be taken to control it.
Be wary of abdominal distention: overweight and abdominal obesity.
Hyperlipidemia "favors" people who are overweight and obese in the abdomen. The accumulation of abdominal fat not only changes the body shape, but also is the first warning of high blood lipids. When the abdominal circumference is more than 90 cm in men and 85 cm in women, the risk of dyslipidemia is significantly increased. Weight management is not only about blood lipid balance, but also about blood lipid balance. Maintaining an ideal weight, especially reducing belly fat, is essential to prevent and control hyperlipidemia.
The killer on the table: unhealthy eating habits.
There is a hidden trigger for high blood lipids in the daily diet. Excessive intake of high-fat, high-sugar foods directly affects blood lipid levels. For example, regular consumption of foods high in saturated fatty acids, such as fried foods, red meat, and cream, can lead to elevated cholesterol levels. Conversely, increasing dietary fiber intake, such as eating more vegetables, fruits, and whole grains, can help lower blood lipids.
Lack of exercise makes it difficult to reduce blood lipids.
Lack of exercise is another "booster" of hyperlipidemia. Lack of adequate physical activity can reduce the metabolic rate of fat, leading to the accumulation of blood lipids. Regular aerobic exercise, such as brisk walking, swimming, or cycling, not only burns excess body fat, but also boosts the "good" cholesterol (HDL cholesterol), which reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Familial inheritance, a risk factor that cannot be ignored.
Hyperlipidemia is more common in some families, and genetic factors play an important role here. If there is a family history of hyperlipidemia or cardiovascular disease, then the risk of the disease increases accordingly. Knowing your family history is essential for early detection and prevention of hyperlipidemia.
Silent alarm: insidious hyperlipidemia.
Hyperlipidemia is a "silent" health threat. Many times, patients already suffer from hyperlipidemia without obvious symptoms. That's why it's especially important to have regular check-ups, blood tests that can detect dyslipidemia in a timely manner.
Fatigue and dizziness: common manifestations of hyperlipidemia.
Although hyperlipidemia is often subtle, certain signs may indicate abnormal lipid levels. Long-term fatigue and dizziness may be a sign of high blood lipids. In addition, blurred vision and memory loss may also be related to excessive blood lipids. When these symptoms occur, lipid profiles should be performed promptly.
* Lesions: External signs of hyperlipidemia.
In some cases, hyperlipidemia can leave marks on **. Xanthoma is a common manifestation of hyperlipidemia and usually appears around the eyelids. These small, yellow plaques are formed by cholesterol deposits and are a signal to check blood lipids.