Virtual Medical Centre

Hypercholesterolaemia

• What is Hypercholesterolaemia?
• Who gets Hypercholesterolaemia?
• Predisposing Factors
• Progression
• Probable Outcomes
• How Will Hypercholesterolaemia Affect Me?
• Clinical Examination
• How is Hypercholesterolaemia Diagnosed?
• How is Hypercholesterolaemia treated?
• Hypercholesterolaemia References
• Drugs/Products Associated with Hypercholesterolaemia

What is Hypercholesterolaemia?

3D Animation on Hyperlipidemia This animation brought to you by Blausen Medical Communications. Contact Andrew Walbank.

Hypercholesterolaemia is defined as elevated amounts of cholesterol in the blood. Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that is naturally found in the walls of cells. It is used by the body to produce certain hormones, vitamin D, and bile acids that help to digest fat. If the amounts of cholesterol in the blood are excessive, cholesterol can build up in arteries, which can lead to coronary heart disease and many other serious conditions.

Who gets Hypercholesterolaemia?

Nonfamilial (non-inherited) hypercholesterolaemia is the most common form of hypercholesterolaemia. It occurs in patients who may have a family history of high cholesterol and who have an excessive intake of foods that are high in saturated fat and cholesterol.

Familial hypercholesterolemia, which is an inherited genetic disorder, can occur in up to 1 in 500 people.

Predisposing Factors

Predisposing factors for high cholesterol levels (hypercholesterolaemia) include:

• Family history
• Diets high in saturated fats and cholesterol
• Liver disease
• Underactive thyroid
• Poorly controlled diabetes
• Overactive pituitary gland
• Nephrotic syndrome 
• Anorexia nervosa
• Obesity
• Smoking
• Low levels of physical activity
• Polycystic ovarian syndrome
• Insulin resistance
• Alcohol use 
• Kidney failure
• Stress
• Pregnancy
• Lupus
• Multiple myeloma
• Lymphoma

While some factors cannot be altered by changes in lifestyle, many can be changed. The most important risk factors related to high cholesterol are:

• Obesity
• Diets high in saturated fat and trans fatty acids
• Low fibre in the diet
• Physical inactivity
• Stress
• Smoking cigarettes
• Living in an industrialised country
• Underactive thyroid
• Diabetes
• Polycystic ovary syndrome

In most cases, elevated cholesterol levels are associated with an overly fatty diet coupled with an inactive lifestyle.

Progression

A number of complications may occur if high cholesterol is left untreated. These include:

• Heart disease: One of the leading cause of death in Australia. Elevated cholesterol levels more than doubles the risk of heart attack.
• Stroke
• Insulin resistance: Many people diagnosed as being insulin resistant then go on to develop diabetes.