Analysis of Early Identification and Scientific Prevention Strategies for Hyperlipidemia

High cholesterol should be taken seriously: High cholesterol is widely considered a major threat to human health. For those entering middle and old age, high cholesterol often induces atherosclerosis, increasing the risk of various cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Therefore, the mention of high cholesterol causes panic, especially among the elderly.

What is high cholesterol? It is when plasma cholesterol or triglyceride levels exceed the upper limit of normal, known as hypercholesterolemia or hypertriglyceridemia, respectively. When both are elevated, hyperlipidemia occurs.

Patients newly diagnosed with hyperlipidemia should first undergo further examination of all systems of the body. This is because some diseases are contributing factors to hyperlipidemia.

These include nephrotic syndrome, systemic lupus erythematosus, diabetes, alcoholism, liver disease, and abnormal globulinemia. Certain medications, such as thiazide diuretics and furosemide, can also cause elevated blood lipids. Hyperlipidemia can worsen into arteriosclerosis in various organs throughout the body, potentially leading to various diseases such as coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease (cerebral thrombosis, cerebral hemorrhage, etc.), and renal insufficiency. Therefore, further examination of all systems of the body is absolutely necessary. Regular and dynamic monitoring of the functions and biochemical indicators of these vital organs should be conducted in conjunction with treatment to prevent organ dysfunction. Regardless of whether vital organs are affected by hyperlipidemia, lipid-lowering measures should be taken, reducing the intake of animal fats. Appropriate physical activity should be undertaken according to organ function, and a diet rich in plant-based foods should be maintained. Vegetable oils should be used as much as possible during cooking.

Early detection and treatment are crucial: Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases are widely known, as they have become a leading cause of death. Many factors contribute to these diseases, with hypertension and hyperlipidemia being the most important. Compared to hypertension, which is often prioritized for prevention and treatment, the dangers of hyperlipidemia are often underestimated.

Generally, the early stages of hyperlipidemia have the following characteristics:

(1) It develops silently, but complications arise rapidly. Hypertension patients often experience headaches, dizziness, and lightheadedness, prompting them to seek medical attention. Furthermore, blood pressure measurement is painless and can be done at home, leading to a higher rate of treatment. Hyperlipidemia, however, is different. Firstly, it doesn't cause any symptoms. Secondly, it requires blood tests, and the results take several days to arrive, which is inconvenient. Most importantly, people lack awareness of the dangers of hyperlipidemia and don't take it seriously enough.

The main harm of hyperlipidemia is arteriosclerosis, which causes blood vessel walls to lose elasticity and narrow. Arteries are distributed throughout the body, transporting oxygen and nutrients to various organs, tissues, and cells. Once arteriosclerosis occurs, it can lead to serious consequences. For example, when cerebral arteries harden, blood clots can form and block cerebral blood vessels, causing cerebral infarction. If brittle cerebral blood vessels rupture due to hypertension or other conditions, it can cause cerebral hemorrhage. Both cerebral infarction and cerebral hemorrhage prevent oxygen from reaching brain cells, ultimately leading to brain cell death and leaving sequelae such as limb paralysis and speech impairment, or even death. When the coronary arteries, the blood vessels of the heart, harden, discomfort such as angina, palpitations, and shortness of breath occurs. Further progression of arteriosclerosis will cause the lumen of the coronary arteries to become extremely narrow, allowing blood clots to block them, completely stopping blood flow—this is acute myocardial infarction.

In hyperlipidemia, high cholesterol is the most important cause of arteriosclerosis, which is why cholesterol is considered an enemy. However, while we may view it negatively, we shouldn't forget that there are good and bad types of cholesterol. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) acts as a transporter, carrying cholesterol synthesized in the liver and intestines through the bloodstream to all tissues, storing excess cholesterol in peripheral tissues such as blood vessel walls. High-density lipoprotein (HDL) has the opposite function: it extracts excess cholesterol stored in peripheral tissues such as blood vessel walls, concentrates it, and carries it back to the liver, acting as a cleaner. If the former (hyperlipidemia) is excessive, it will deposit on the blood vessel walls, eventually leading to arteriosclerosis; if the latter (hyperlipidemia) is excessive, the blood vessel walls will be cleaned, preventing arteriosclerosis.

The formation and development of arteriosclerosis is a slow, gradual process, occurring silently. Generally, it takes 5-10 years for the blood vessel lumen to narrow to a certain extent before lesions appear—this is the frightening aspect of hyperlipidemia. Therefore, individuals with the following conditions should undergo blood lipid testing and prevention as early as possible: Those with familial hyperlipidemia; men over 40 years of age or postmenopausal women; those with other risk factors for coronary heart disease such as hypertension, diabetes, obesity, or smoking; those with a family history of coronary heart disease, stroke, or peripheral atherosclerosis, especially those with immediate family members who experienced early onset or early death from the disease.