HealthDuties

A diet rich in cholesterol or saturated fat tends to raise blood cholesterol (LDL). A diet which is rich in carbohydrates, or excessive alcohol intake, may result in increased levels of VLDL (very low density lipoprotein).

For treating hypercholesterolemia, secondary causes need to be taken care of. Diabetes should be treated. In hypothyroidism, the cholesterol levels are automatically reduced when hypothyroidism is treated.

Patients with high cholesterol should be given a fat-modified diet. Thereafter, drug therapy may be started.

High cholesterol is also called hypercholesterolemia. It is a common condition resulting either from a primary abnormality in lipid metabolism or a secondary manifestation of some other condition.

The three primary causes of high cholesterol are familial combined hyperlipidemia, remnant hyperlipidemia and familial hypercholesterolemia. Some of the secondary causes include:

• Obesity
• Diabetes mellitus
• Thiazide
• ?-adrenoceptor antagonists
• Alcohol excess
• Hypothyroidism
• Chronic cholestasis
• Nephritic syndrome
• Chronic renal failure

There are five different classifications of high cholesterol: familial hypercholesterolemia, familial combine hyperlipidemia, remnant (type III) hyperlipidemia, plurimetabolic syndrome (metabolic syndrome, syndrome X) and hyperalphalipoproteinaemia.

High cholesterol is one of the modifiable risk factors for congestive heart disease. When treated properly, the risks of congestive heart disease are considerably reduced.