What is High Blood Lipid Condition?
Nowadays, people are paying more attention to their health and trying to avoid junk food that is high in fat because it is the cause of “high blood lipid condition”. Frequent consumption can lead to high cholesterol levels in the blood and may be the source of various diseases, especially those related to heart and brain blood vessels.
High blood lipids is a condition where the body has blood lipid levels higher than the normal range. It may involve abnormalities in both “cholesterol” and “triglycerides,” which are risk factors for various diseases such as heart and vascular diseases, narrowed or blocked blood vessels, stroke, or insufficient blood flow to organs, including high blood pressure.
Types of Blood Lipids
Many people are familiar with the terms “cholesterol” and “triglycerides”, which are fats normally found in the body. Today, we will look at the important roles these two types of fats play in “high blood lipid disease”.
1. Cholesterol
Cholesterol is a type of fat that the body can synthesize itself from the liver and intestines. It is found mostly in animal fats. Cholesterol is an important component of various cells in the body, but excessive amounts can also be harmful. There are two important types of cholesterol:
- HDL (High density lipoprotein – HDL) functions to carry cholesterol and fatty acids from different parts of the body to help prevent bad fats from accumulating in the arteries. Having high levels of HDL cholesterol helps reduce the risk of coronary artery disease. Normal HDL levels: men should have more than 40 mg/dL, women should have more than 50 mg/dL
- LDL (Low density lipoprotein – LDL) acts as a carrier of fats and cholesterol to various parts of the body. If this fat is too high in the blood, it will accumulate on the walls of blood vessels, causing narrowing and fragility of the vessels, which impedes blood flow and increases the risk of artery blockage. Normal LDL levels for both men and women should not exceed 100-130 mg/dL
2. Triglycerides
Triglycerides are a type of fat derived from sugars and starches or other foods that help provide a feeling of fullness for a long time. The body stores triglycerides as energy, but if triglyceride levels in the blood are high, the risk of coronary artery disease increases. Normal triglyceride levels should not exceed 150 mg/dL.
Risk Factors for High Blood Lipids
- Genetic abnormalities causing defects in fat metabolism
- Other health problems such as diabetes, kidney disease, hypothyroidism, overweight or obesity
- Effects of certain medications such as diuretics and steroids
- Poor nutrition, consuming foods high in fat such as animal fats, organ meats, butter, eggs, etc.
- Stress and regular alcohol consumption
Treatment for High Blood Lipids Starts with Behavioral Changes
The principle of treating high blood lipids involves reducing existing risk factors along with behavioral changes that prevent the development of related diseases.
- Avoid foods and drinks high in cholesterol, saturated fats, and sugar such as fried foods, fatty meats, butter, cakes, and organ meats
- Focus on consuming vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and healthy protein sources such as low-fat dairy products, lean poultry (without skin), fish, and nuts
- Those who are overweight should control their diet and exercise regularly at least 3-4 times per week, with each session lasting about 40 minutes or more
Behavioral changes help reduce cholesterol levels effectively and sustainably, but some cases may require medication as well, which should be determined by a physician only.
Prevention of High Blood Lipid Disease
Prevention of high blood lipid disease involves knowing your blood lipid levels and the amounts of each type of fat because not all fats are harmful to the body.
Therefore, regular “health check-ups” to monitor the levels of each type of fat are essential.
- If you are over 35 years old, you should have your blood lipids checked every 1-2 years
- If you have a family history of ischemic heart disease, diabetes, or high blood pressure, you should have your blood lipids checked every 6 months
High blood lipid condition depends on our own behavior. If we pay attention to our health and know how to prevent risks, the chances of developing diseases decrease, allowing us to live longer and happier lives.
