Dyslipidemia is a condition characterized by abnormal amount of circulating lipids in the blood. These lipids are different forms of cholesterols and triglycerides. In developed countries, most dyslipidemias are hyperlipidemias; that is, an elevation of lipids in the blood
When one has too much cholesterol in blood, the excess builds up on the walls of the arteries that carry blood to the heart. This buildup is called "atherosclerosis" or "hardening of the arteries." It narrows the arteries and can slow down or block blood flow to the heart. With less blood, the heart gets less oxygen. With not enough oxygen to the heart, there may be chest pain ("angina" or "angina pectoris"), heart attack ("myocardial infarction"), or even death. Cholesterol buildup is the most common cause of heart disease, and it happens so slowly that you are not even aware of it. The higher is blood cholesterol, the greater is chance of this buildup.
Studies show that lowering cholesterol levels reduces the risk of illness or death from heart disease, which kills more men and women each year than any other illness. If you have heart disease, lowering your cholesterol level will probably help you to live longer. If you don't have heart disease, reducing excess cholesterol levels will definitely reduce your risk of illness and death from heart attack.
Therapeutic lifestyle changes are important adjuncts to pharmacologic management of dyslipidemia. As a first-line therapy against dyslipidemia, therapeutic lifestyle change is a key component of treatment and one that is completely dependent on patients own participation. If one has heart disease or is at high risk for developing it because of dyslipidemia, he should take immediate action.
