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| Obesity | |||
| Prevalence (home) | |||
| Definition | |||
| Causes | |||
| Why Be Worried? | |||
| Psycho-Social Factors | |||
| Medical Complications | |||
| Hypertension | |||
| Diabetes | |||
| Cholesterol | |||
| Fatty Liver | |||
| Metabolic Syndrome | |||
| Cancer | |||
| Osteoarthritis | |||
| Gallstones | |||
| Heart Attacks/Strokes | |||
| Sleep Apnea | |||
| Medical Treatments | |||
| Gimmicks & Low Carbs | |||
| FAQ's | |||
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| Weight Management Programs | |||
| For Patients | |||
| For Injured Workers | |||
| For Case Managers | |||
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| Eating Disorders | |||
| Compulsive Overeating | Diagnostic Criteria | ||
| Eating Behaviors & Moods | |||
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| Resources | |||
| Patient Education | |||
| Obesity Education Programs (first airing June, 2004) | Consulting & Med-legal Asst | ||
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| Cigna Hall of Shame | |||
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| Accessibility/Section 508 | |||
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| Office Location/Appts. | |||
| Michael D. Myers, M.D.,Inc. | |||
| 10861 Cherry Street, Suite 300 | |||
| Los Alamitos, CA (U.S.) 90720 | |||
| voice: (562) 493-2266 | |||
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Hypercholesterolemia (high cholesterol levels)
What is hypercholesterolemia?
Cholesterol is a waxy substance found mostly in fatty foods that are derived from animals. It is also manufactured by the body. You need small amounts of cholesterol to make and maintain cells and to manufacture hormones. Too much cholesterol circulating in the bloodstream is known as hypercholesterolemia, which increases the risk of heart disease.There are two major categories of cholesterol: low-density lipoprotein (LDL), the so-called "bad" cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein (HDL), the "good" cholesterol. Diet, exercise, smoking, alcohol, and certain illnesses can affect the levels of both types of cholesterol. Eating a high-fat diet will increase your LDL cholesterol, while exercising and reducing your weight will increase your HDL cholesterol and lower your LDL cholesterol.
What causes hypercholesterolemia?
The most common cause of hypercholesterolemia is eating foods that are high in saturated fat and/or cholesterol. It can also be caused by:
- An inherited disorder in
which cholesterol is not metabolized properly by the body.
- An underlying disease that
raises the cholesterol level, for example, diabetes mellitus, kidney
disease, liver disease, or an under-active thyroid.
- Obesity, which generally results from eating a high-fat diet.
Why worry about elevated cholesterol?
Cholesterol causes deposits to form inside blood vessels. These deposits, called plaque, are made of fats deposited from the bloodstream. If the deposits get large enough, blood vessels may become clogged, thus decreasing blood flow. These deposits result in atherosclerosis, which can cause blood clots to form that totally stop blood flow. If this happens in the arteries supplying the heart, a heart attack occurs. If it happens in the brain, a portion of brain tissue dies and this results in a stroke. Atherosclerosis causes more deaths from heart disease than any other single condition.What are the symptoms?
Hypercholesterolemia is a silent disease. There are no symptoms until the resulting atherosclerosis causes complications, such as the chest pain of a heart attack or the paralysis of a stroke.How is it diagnosed?
Hypercholesterolemia is diagnosed by a blood specimen obtained after you have not eaten or drunk anything (except water) for 12 hours. The fasting is done to determine your LDL and HDL cholesterol levels, which can only be accurately measured in a fasting state. The generally agreed upon acceptable upper limits are 130 mg/dl for LDL cholesterol and 200 mg/dl for total cholesterol. However, certain medical conditions, such as diabetes and heart disease, require levels of cholesterol that are much lower than these limits. If your cholesterol is elevated, discuss with your health professional the type of treatment (if any) that will be required.How is elevated cholesterol treated?
Initial treatment for hypercholesterolemia usually requires dietary changes including:- Reducing your intake of
total fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol.
- Increasing your intake
of soluble fiber, such as bran, whole grains, and other sources of fiber.
- Weight reduction, if overweight or obese.
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| Updated:
28 May 2004. Copyright © 1996 -2004 Michael D. Myers, M.D., Inc. All rights reserved. |
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The above information is for general purposes only and should not be construed as definitive or binding medical advice. Because each person is medically different, individuals should consult their own personal physicians for specific information and/or treatment recommendations.