Hypercholesterolemia is a condition where a person has high levels of cholesterol in his or her blood. In most cases, cholesterol is defined as being good, meaning it is a high density lipoprotein (HDL), or bad, which is a low density lipoprotein (LDL). When a person is referred to as having high cholesterol, this generally means he or she has high levels of LDL cholesterol in the blood. Often, high cholesterol is caused by consuming foods that are high in fats, being overweight and certain health conditions such as diabetes, however, it may be inherited in a condition known as familial hypercholesterolemia. Generally, hypercholesterolemia treatment will center around the person making essential lifestyle changes.
One of the best ways to get hypercholesterolemia treatment is to consult with a doctor. The doctor can perform a complete physical examination and include a blood test to check cholesterol levels. If the test reveals dangerously high levels of cholesterol, the doctor may prescribe medications as a hypercholesterolemia treatment. Medications will generally be used to lower LDL cholesterol. Often, medications are only used in certain situations, as some can have adverse reactions on certain body parts, such as the liver.
Eating healthier is a good hypercholesterolemia treatment that may be administered on a self-help basis. When using this treatment for hypercholesterolemia, it will be important to avoid foods high in fats. Additionally, foods that have a lot of sugar and sodium should be avoided. Instead, an individual should eat foods that are natural and without a great deal of preservatives. Fresh vegetables, fruits and lean meats may become part of a health-conscious diet to treat hypercholesterolemia.
Exercise may also be used as a hypercholesterolemia treatment. This treatment of hypercholesterolemia may be done in an effort to lose weight. Keeping body weight in control and under a healthy range is a good way to lower bad cholesterol and blood pressure. In most cases, a person will gain weight if he or she eats more calories than he or she works off. For this reason, it is important to remain physically active for many health reasons, including lowering cholesterol.
Familial hypercholesterolemia may be inherited from birth. A person with this condition had it passed on to him or her from a family member. The condition is caused by a defect on chromosome 19. This type of hypercholesterolemia can be very dangerous, as it may cause heart disease, high blood pressure, heart attacks and strokes in very young people. Medications may be used as a familial hypercholesterolemia treatment in babies and young children, however, older people may follow the same guidelines as a person with standard hypercholesterolemia, which may include exercising, dieting and trying to lead the healthiest lifestyle as possible.