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Robert A. Kreisberg, Jane E.B. Reusch, Hyperlipidemia (High Blood Fat), The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, Volume 90, Issue 3, 1 March 2005, Page E1, https://doi.org/10.1210/jcem.90.3.9991
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What is hyperlipidemia?
Hyperlipidemia, means that high levels of fats (or lipids) are in the blood. These fats include cholesterol and triglycerides. They are important for our bodies to function but when they are too high, they can put people at risk for heart disease and stroke.
How is hyperlipidemia caused?
Hyperlipidemia is caused when your diet contains too much cholesterol and fat (e.g., meat, cheese, cream, eggs, shellfish, etc.), when the body produces too much cholesterol and fat, or both.
Fats do not dissolve in water. In order for them to be carried in the blood (which is mostly water) they combine with another substance called a protein to create a lipoprotein. There are three kinds of lipoproteins in the body:
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Too much LDL, or “bad” cholesterol, can build up in the arteries (the blood vessels that carry blood throughout the body) and, over time, cause heart disease or stroke. On the other hand, having too much HDL, or “good” cholesterol, protects the heart by helping to remove the build up of LDL from the arteries. Low levels of HDL and high triglycerides can also increase fat build up in the arteries and cause heart disease, especially in people who are obese or have diabetes.
