Hypercholesterolemia

What is it

We speak of hypercholesterolemia when the cholesterol values detected in the blood are above the levels considered “normal”, ie 240 mg / dl.

Currently, however, it is preferred to consider not only total cholesterol, but also LDL and HDL cholesterol values and their ratio.

Optimal values

The values considered desirable are:

• total cholesterol less than 200 mg/dL
• LDL cholesterol less than 130 mg/dl
• HDL cholesterol greater than 40 mg/dl in men, 50 mg/dl in women.

Especially it is important to evaluate the ratio of LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol) and HDL cholesterol (good cholesterol).

What risks does it entail?

If present in excessive quantities, LDL cholesterol tends to settle on the wall of the arteries, causing them to thicken and harden (atherosclerosis).

Over time, these deposits form real plaques (or atheromas) that hinder blood flow or block it altogether, causing suffering in tissues that are no longer adequately oxygenated.

If plaques reduce the blood supply to the arteries supplying the heart (coronary arteries), chest and arm pain (angina pectoris) usually occurs in conjunction with exertion or stress.

Atherosclerotic plaques can also detach from the arterial wall forming a thrombus that can completely clog a vessel.

If the thrombus occludes a vessel at the heart level, it will provoke a myocardial infarction; If the occluded vessel is in the brain you will have a stroke.

Finally, if the thrombus involves the vessels of the lower limbs, cramping pain in the calf or in the side and buttock will arise while walking, which is reduced to rest. This disorder is called “intermittent claudication”.

Main symptoms

High cholesterol levels do not, by themselves, induce any symptoms; Often, therefore, people do not know that they suffer from hypercholesterolemia.

When symptoms appear (angina or intermittent claudication) it means that cholesterol has already settled in the vessels and has already caused damage.

For this reason, especially after the age of 40, it is good to keep cholesterol levels under control through regular blood tests.

Risk factors

In addition to a genetic predisposition (hereditary hypercholesterolemia), there are several factors that can contribute to excessive increase in blood cholesterol. Among them: overweight and obesity, lack of physical activity, incorrect nutrition.

Some diseases, such as diabetes, also predispose to hypercholesterolemia; moreover, the level of LDL cholesterol tends to increase with age, especially among women.

Finally, smoke can damage the vessels, accelerating the hardening process of the arteries.

Prevention

Prevention is as always the best strategy. To keep cholesterol within desirable levels, risk factors such as:

• diet (reduce fats, especially saturated fats, and alcohol; possibly use plant sterols that help reduce cholesterol absorption)
• keep body weight controlled
• do regular physical activity
• Avoid smoking.

Therapy

If changing your lifestyle is not enough to keep cholesterol levels under control, you can resort to cholesterol-lowering drugs, but only if prescribed by your doctor and under his supervision.