Signs of hypercholesterolemia. The main causes and methods of treatment of hypercholesterolemia. Treatment of pathology, preventive measures

200 million people in the world, from Europe, USA and ending with Asia and Africa, men - 65%, women - 35%. All these are the results of monitoring research centers regarding the number of people suffering from hypercholesterolemia around the world.

What is this disease?

In answering this question, all sources and doctors are in solidarity: hypercholesterolemia is a blood condition with a very high level of cholesterol, or, in other words, a fat-like substance.

Cholesterol is one of the constituents of cell membranes. It is needed for the structure of bile acids, without which normal digestion is impossible, it enters our body with food, and is produced by our liver. With the help of it, sex and adrenal hormones are formed. In the article we will consider what hypercholesterolemia is and what are the causes of this disease.

Causes of High Cholesterol

Where it comes from can be very different. For example, one of the main ones is the ingestion of this substance into the body with high-calorie foods. Due to the high content of cholesterol in food, fats settle on the walls of blood vessels, resulting in the formation of plaques that impede the movement of blood, thereby increasing the risk of heart attack or stroke. Recently, it is because of malnutrition that cases of diagnosing hypercholesterolemia have become more frequent. In addition, changes in the hormonal level and nervousness can cause an increase in this substance.

Basically, this disease is hereditary. In this case, cholesterol levels are very high and genetically determined. Hereditary hypercholesterolemia is a disease that is caused by a defect in the gene responsible for encoding the structure and function of the B/E apoprotein receptor. In people suffering from a heterozygous form of familial hypercholesterolemia (1 patient per 350-500 people), only half of the B / E receptors function, so the level almost doubles (up to 9-12 mmol / l). Hypothyroidism, long-term use of drugs (steroids, diuretics, etc.) and diabetes mellitus are considered to be particular risk factors for the onset of the disease.

Symptoms

The biggest insidiousness lies in the fact that a person does not feel specifically expressed symptoms. Without changing the lifestyle, the patient may simply not pay attention to the symptoms. At this time, the level of cholesterol in the blood increases. If a high rate persists for a long time, the beginning hypercholesterolemia symptoms will have the following:

• Xanthomas - nodules of sufficient density over the tendons.
• Xanthelasma - appear as subcutaneous deposits under the eyelids. These are dense yellow nodules that are difficult to distinguish from other skin areas.
• The lipoid arch of the cornea of ​​the eyes is a cholesterol rim (white or grayish-white).

With atherosclerosis, which is caused by high cholesterol, the symptoms of organ damage are already significantly pronounced and exacerbated.

Types of analyzes

Hypercholesterolemia is an indicator that is detected exclusively in the laboratory as a result of a special blood test. There are two types of tests - a psychological history and a laboratory study. They, in turn, are also divided into several types, which we will consider below.

Psychological history

Laboratory analysis for cholesterol

1. Urine and blood tests. It is necessary to carry out to detect the inflammatory process.
2. Biochemical analysis. Thus, the levels of sugar and blood protein, creatinine, uric acid are determined. These results provide information about possible organ damage.
3. Lipidogram is the main diagnostic method. This is an analysis for cholesterol-lipids, or as they are called fat-like substances. What is it? There are two types of lipids - which contribute to the development of atherosclerosis (pro-atherogenic), and prevent (lipoproteins). With their ratio, the coefficient of atherogenicity is calculated. If it is higher than 3, then the risk of atherosclerosis is high.
4. Immunological analysis. This study determines the amount of antibodies in the blood. These are special proteins that are produced by the body and have the ability to destroy foreign elements.
5. Genetic. It is carried out to detect genes that are carriers of hereditary information that are responsible for the development of transmissible hypercholesterolemia.

Diseases associated with hypercholesterolemia

Symptoms of this disease may not affect a person's life in any way and remain invisible for a long time. However, rising steadily, cholesterol levels cause serious consequences. The risk of many serious diseases and complications increases. These include: gallstones, cerebrovascular accident, aneurysms, memory impairment, coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction, stroke. High cholesterol greatly complicates the treatment of hypertension and diabetes. All of these diseases are the main causes of high mortality worldwide. The medical community is seriously concerned about finding ways to effectively lower blood cholesterol levels as one of the ways to reduce mortality.

Effects

Any doctor will say that if there are consequences in the future, they will lead to a number of complications. Atherosclerosis (a chronic disease) is considered the main one - thickening of the arterial walls and narrowing of their lumen, which can lead to impaired blood supply. Depending on how the vessels containing atherosclerotic plaques are located, the following forms of the disease are distinguished:

1. - leads to a prolonged increase in blood pressure and contributes to the formation of heart defects: narrowing and insufficiency (inability to prevent blood circulation) of the aortic valve.
2. Atherosclerosis of the heart vessels (ischemic disease) leads to the development of diseases such as:

• myocardial infarction (death of part of the heart muscle due to the cessation of blood flow to it);
• violation of the heart rhythm;
• heart defects (structural disorders of the heart);
• heart failure (poor blood supply to organs at rest and stress, which is often accompanied by blood stasis);
• atherosclerosis of blood vessels in the brain - impairs mental activity, and with complete blockage of the vessel leads to a stroke (death of a part of the brain);
• atherosclerosis of the arteries in the kidneys, the result is arterial hypertension;
• atherosclerosis of the intestinal arteries can cause intestinal infarction;
• arteriosclerosis of the vessels in the lower extremities leads to

Complications

Atherosclerosis has two types of complications: chronic and acute. As a result of the first leads to a narrowing of the lumen of the vessel. Since plaques form rather slowly, chronic ischemia appears, in which nutrients and oxygen are supplied in insufficient quantities. Acute complications are the appearance of blood clots (blood clots), embolism (blood clots that have come off from the place of origin, transferred by blood, vasospasm). There is an extremely acute closure of the lumen of the vessels, which is accompanied by vascular insufficiency (acute ischemia), which leads to a heart attack of various organs.

Treatment

When diagnosed with hypercholesterolemia, treatment should begin first with a strict diet. It consists in the complete rejection of the use of foods with a large capacity of fats and cholesterol (butter, sour cream, egg yolks, jelly, liver) and an increase in the amount of carbohydrates, and especially fiber. Meat can only be eaten boiled, a lot of fruits and vegetables, low-fat dairy products, fish and seafood should be included in the diet. Together with the diet, they are determined with physical exercises, which will make it possible to reduce the negative impact of cholesterol entering the body. You can practice almost any sport (morning jogging, swimming, cycling, skiing). A subscription to the gym, fitness or aerobics will not hurt. If you properly combine diet and exercise, it is possible to reduce cholesterol by up to 10%, which, in turn, will reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease by 2%.

Your doctor may also prescribe medications called statins. They are specifically designed to reduce blood cholesterol, because they are highly effective and can be used for long-term treatment (there are practically no side effects). In practice, the following statins are used: Rosuvastatin, Simvastin, Lovastatin, fluvastatin sodium, Atorvastatin calcium. If we give a general description of statins, we can say that they reduce the risk of stroke, re-infarction. During the use of these drugs, it is necessary to conduct a biochemical blood test. This is done in order to stop taking them in case of normalization of cholesterol levels. You must know that hypercholesterolemia is a disease when self-medication with statins is strictly prohibited. Only the attending physician prescribes a course of treatment with these drugs, terms and doses.

Prevention

Prevention before the onset of hypercholesterolemia is mainly a set of actions that can be used to change risk factors - weight control, a strict diet enriched with fiber and vitamins, stopping alcohol, smoking cigarettes, which leads to a several-fold decrease in the risk of developing coronary disease, active physical activity, optimal glucose levels, pressure. For people who already have elevated cholesterol levels, preventive measures are taken with medication. With any prevention, no one has yet been harmed by moderate physical activity and spiritual peace.

Hypercholesterolemia is a pathological condition associated with high levels of cholesterol in the blood. Hypercholesterolemia itself is not dangerous, but is a significant risk factor for the development of atherosclerosis with its potential complications.

Cholesterol is a natural compound from the class of alcohols, insoluble in water, is part of cell membranes. About 80% of the need for this compound is provided by the processes of synthesis in the body, the rest comes from food. They say about hypercholesterolemia if the cholesterol content in the blood exceeds 5.2 mmol / l.

Elevated cholesterol is more common in men, it is detected mainly in old age. What is hypercholesterolemia is well known to doctors from developed countries: in some European countries, this condition is detected in about 40% of the population.

The acceptable norm indicators depend on the age and the presence of chronic diseases in the patient. In healthy people under 40 years of age, the upper limit of blood cholesterol is 5.2 mmol / l. After myocardial infarction or stroke - no more than 4.5 mmol / l. In diabetes mellitus, a cholesterol content of no more than 4.2 mmol / l is considered conditionally safe. Indicators in the range of 5.2-6.2 mmol / l indicate a high probability of atherosclerotic vascular damage; concentrations above 6.2 mmol / l are detected in people suffering from chronic diseases.

Symptoms

Hypercholesterolemia does not have pronounced clinical symptoms and does not affect well-being. Changes in the composition of the blood are detected only by laboratory analysis. At the same time, excess cholesterol begins to be deposited on the walls of blood vessels, prerequisites for the development of atherosclerosis and its complications arise.

The formation of xanthoma, xanthelasma and the lipoid arch of the cornea indirectly indicate an increased content of cholesterol in the blood. Xanthomas are nodular neoplasms with a high content of hemoglobin, located above the tendons. Similar cholesterol-containing nodules can form on the eyelids, this type of neoplasm is known as xanthelasma. Excess cholesterol can be deposited along the edges of the cornea in the form of a white or grayish rim. This phenomenon is called the lipoid edge of the cornea, the formation of such deposits in people under the age of 50 indicates the hereditary nature of lipid metabolism disorders.

As hypercholesterolemia progresses to atherosclerosis and further development of the pathological process, signs of functional disorders from the internal organs begin to appear.

Another indirect sign of lipid metabolism disorders is angina pectoris.

Forms

Hypercholesterolemia can be primary, secondary or alimentary. Primary hypercholesterolemia is genetically determined, mutant genes dominate and are not sex-linked. Depending on the number of copies of the defective gene, hereditary or familial hypercholesterolemia can be homozygous or heterozygous. The inheritance of two defective genes is quite rare, 1 case per million people, the heterozygous form is much more common - 1 case per 500 people.

The secondary form develops against the background of certain diseases or pathological conditions. With an excess of animal fats in the diet, the so-called alimentary hypercholesterolemia is possible.

Causes of the disease

Familial hypercholesterolemia is the result of a mutation in the gene that controls cholesterol synthesis.

The secondary form develops as a symptom associated with liver diseases, in which the outflow of bile is difficult, diabetes mellitus or hypothyroidism. Sometimes lipid metabolism disorders are iatrogenic in nature and are associated with a long course of treatment with certain drugs.

Most cases of hypercholesterolemia are caused by dietary errors. Excessive consumption of animal fats leads to an increase in cholesterol levels in the blood. A single consumption of foods high in fat is accompanied by transient (transient) hypercholesterolemia, with regular consumption of fatty foods, elevated cholesterol becomes permanent.

Risk factors for the development and progression of hypercholesterolemia are the same as for atherosclerosis. Some of them are subject to change. First of all, it is a way of life, eating habits, the presence of bad habits. It will be somewhat more difficult for patients with abdominal obesity, diabetes mellitus and diagnosed arterial hypertension.

The risk of developing lipid disorders in men is higher than in women and increases with age. People with a family history of hypercholesterolemia, sudden cardiac death, fatal myocardial infarction and stroke are at increased risk.

Diagnostics

Grounds for suspicion of hypercholesterolemia are provided by an analysis of a family history with confirmed cases of lipid metabolism disorders, atherosclerosis and its complications. Physical examination does not reveal signs of obvious functional disorders in the internal organs. The diagnosis is confirmed by clinical tests, in particular, a biochemical blood test. To exclude hypothyroidism, an analysis for the content of thyroid-stimulating hormone and thyroxine is additionally prescribed.

Treatment

Introducing what hypercholesterolemia is, it is equally important to know how to treat a lipid metabolic disorder. With the initial detection of high cholesterol in the blood, first of all, non-drug treatment is recommended. First of all, you need to adjust the diet. The diet for hypercholesterolemia is aimed at reducing the intake of animal fats while increasing the content of carbohydrates and coarse fiber. It is advisable for patients to give up fatty foods of animal origin, switch from meat to sea fish and seafood. Lean meats are preferred, boiled, baked or stewed. It is very important to keep body weight under control: obesity is one of the risk factors for atherosclerosis. In addition, excess body weight increases the workload on the heart.

A necessary addition to the diet is dosed physical activity with a sufficient supply of oxygen. Active sports contribute to the burning of fats, including excess cholesterol.

Nutritionists and cardiologists strongly recommend limiting or completely eliminating alcohol consumption. Alcohol provokes overeating, aggravates the course of gout, increases the level of triglycerides in the blood. Incompatible with a number of drugs. With the rejection of alcohol and tobacco at the same time reduces the risk of atherosclerosis at times. It has been proven that smoking cessation in the blood increases the content of substances that prevent the formation of cholesterol deposits on the walls of blood vessels.

The effect of exercise and diet in hypercholesterolemia may not be enough. This refers to familial hypercholesterolemia. In such cases, drug therapy is required. Patients are prescribed statins, medicines that lower blood cholesterol levels. This group of drugs is intended for long-term use, the course of treatment is carried out with the obligatory control of cholesterol in the blood. Statins are incompatible with alcohol. A specific drug, dosage and regimen is prescribed only by a doctor, self-medication is strictly prohibited.

In some cases, patients may be prescribed cholesterol absorption inhibitors. These drugs prevent the absorption of cholesterol from food, but their effectiveness is limited due to the natural characteristics of the metabolism of this substance.

To bind and remove excess bile acids, drugs from the group of sequestrants are used. Together with statins, fibrates, drugs that increase the content of high-density lipoproteins, which prevent the development of atherosclerotic lesions, can be used. In addition to correcting the diet, patients are prescribed preparations of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids.

In severe cases, patients are shown extracorporeal blood purification from excess cholesterol.

Possible consequences and complications

Pure hypercholesterolemia naturally progresses to atherosclerosis - a disease that leads to thickening of the vascular walls and narrowing of the lumen of the vessels due to the formation of cholesterol deposits. Depending on the localization of the lesion against the background of atherosclerosis, arterial hypertension, coronary heart disease, and intermittent claudication develop. With severe vascular lesions, the risk of heart attacks and ischemic stroke increases. In addition to chronic ischemia associated with a gradual narrowing of the lumen of the vessels, acute complications are possible: thrombosis and thromboembolism of the vessels, as well as spastic vasoconstriction.

Prevention

Prevention of hypercholesterolemia is divided into primary and secondary. Primary measures include controlling body weight, blood pressure and blood sugar levels, reducing the intake of animal fats and salt, and abandoning bad habits. A change in physical activity is recommended. Actually, the measures of primary prevention coincide with the program of non-drug treatment of diagnosed disorders of lipid metabolism. The risk of developing hypercholesterolemia decreases with the timely detection and treatment of liver diseases and some endocrine pathologies.

Secondary prevention aims to prevent or slow the progression of hypercholesterolemia. It differs from primary measures by enhanced monitoring of cholesterol levels and the appointment of drug treatment if indicated.

According to the international coding ICD 10, pathology is in the group of metabolic disorders and refers to diseases of the endocrine system. An abnormally high concentration of cholesterol in the serum is observed in 1 case per 125 people, and 55% of the Russian population have elevated levels. Cholesterol is a factor that provokes the development of heart and vascular diseases, which are considered the leading cause of death worldwide. The most dramatic episodes develop due to family predisposition - more than 20% of heart attacks at a young age happen through her fault.

General information about hypercholesterolemia

Cholesterol is an organic compound, a fatty substance from the group of lipids.. It is involved in many processes that ensure human life: it determines the rigidity and permeability of cell membranes, is used by the endocrine glands to build sex hormones, is an essential component of bile necessary for digestion, etc. The liver is responsible for the production of cholesterol.

Cholesterol does not dissolve in the blood because it is a fatty substance. From above, it is covered with a shell of protein molecules - proteins, which is why it is called lipoprotein. There are 4 varieties of these substances: very low, low, intermediate and high density. The first three types are deposited on the walls of blood vessels, forming atherosclerotic plaques, these are LDL (low density lipoproteins), or “bad” cholesterol. High-density lipoproteins (HDL) are "good" - they remove cholesterol from the walls of the arteries, transfer it to the liver.

Atherosclerotic plaques, consisting of 60% cholesterol, narrow the lumen of the arteries, reduce the volume of blood circulating through them, and are the main cause of atherosclerosis. Complete blockage of the artery leads to the development of deadly conditions of the heart, blood vessels, brain, legs - myocardial infarction, paralysis, gangrene. To avoid a catastrophe, it is necessary to determine the pathology as early as possible and begin its treatment.

Types of hypercholesterolemia

Hypercholesterolemia is not a disease, but a prerequisite for the development of other, mostly cardiovascular, pathologies. The course of the condition caused by an increased concentration of cholesterol in the serum does not have specific features, therefore it is classified based on the causes of occurrence. There are 3 forms of the disease:

1. Primary - hereditary, transmitted to children from parents. The genetically determined form of pathology is differentiated depending on the method of transmission:

• homozygous - transmitted along with genes from both parents;
• heterozygous - the defective gene is transmitted by one of the parents.

2. Secondary - acquired as a result of the development of diseases, conditions of the body.

3. Alimentary - the result of excessive consumption of animal fats.

Symptoms

At the initial stage, the pathology does not manifest itself in any way, which is why it gradually passes into a neglected form, leading to serious diseases. Signs of hypercholesterolemia may include:

• impaired memory, attention, decreased performance;
• xanthomas - swelling in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe tendons, fingers and toes;
• xanthelasma - spots, fatty deposits on the eyelids, sometimes - a gray strip around the cornea of ​​\u200b\u200bthe eye - a corneal arch, or a senile arch;
• manifestations of angina pectoris.

Clinical signs of the familial heterozygous form begin in youth or middle age, while the homozygous form begins in childhood. In all age periods, the concentration of cholesterol in plasma in 95% of those suffering from a heterozygous form is above 200 mg / dl, in the absence of treatment it is possible to exceed 300 mg / dl. The homozygous form of the pathology can be more difficult, with a cholesterol level of up to 600 mg / dl and higher, xanthoma may appear already in the first decade of life. Without intensive treatment, by the age of 30 there is a possibility of death.

Causes of hypercholesterolemia

Once in the human body, any fats, including cholesterol, are broken down, absorbed into the lymphatic system, and then with the lymph flow, with the help of lipoproteins, they are transported to organs and tissues. If LDL delivers too much fat to tissue cells, hypercholesterolemia occurs. The disease is promoted by any deviations from the norm in the processes of formation and utilization of cholesterol:

• too intense synthesis;
• excretion disorder;
• high dietary intake.

The main causes of the pathological condition are:

1. Primary or familial hypercholesterolemia occurs due to a hereditary predisposition, when abnormal genes are transmitted from parents to a person. With a hereditary disease, the following may be violated:

• structural structure of lipoprotein protein;
• sensitivity of tissue cells to lipoproteins;
• synthesis of transport enzymes.

2. The secondary form of the disease is provoked by the following diseases and conditions of the body:

• nervous tension, stress;
• hormonal changes;
• nephrotic syndrome - kidney damage, characterized by a high daily loss of protein in the urine and visually manifested by edema throughout the body;
• diabetes;
• hypothyroidism - a persistent deficiency or complete absence of thyroid hormones;
• chronic pathologies of the liver;
• high blood pressure;
• sedentary lifestyle.

3. The appearance of the alimentary form is promoted by an unhealthy lifestyle:

• Excess intake of cholesterol from food and its insufficient breakdown in the body due to poor nutrition and unhealthy food addictions. For example, regular consumption of foods fried in lard helps to increase the amount of a fatty substance in the bloodstream.
• Regular, large amounts of alcohol consumption.
• Taking certain medications - beta-blockers, diuretics, etc.
• Hypodynamia - insufficient physical activity.
• Overweight due to unbalanced diet.

Treatment

Complex therapy of hypercholesterolemia includes drug treatment, adherence to the rules of a healthy lifestyle, innovative methods, folk remedies. Successful treatment is possible only if weight is normalized, alcohol and smoking are avoided, moderate physical activity and diet are followed. In severe forms of pathology, they resort to changing the composition and properties of blood using special devices. The following groups of drugs are effective in the treatment of the disease:

• statins - block the activity of enzymes that produce cholesterol, accelerate the process of lipid destruction;
• intestinal cholesterol absorption inhibitors - reduce LDL levels;
• fibrates - activate the action of enzymes that accelerate the metabolism of fats;
• sequestrants - stimulate the production of fatty acids by the liver, while consuming cholesterol and reducing its level in the blood;
• omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids - normalize the balance of good and bad cholesterol, utilizing the latter.

ethnoscience

To reduce the concentration of cholesterol in the blood, you can prepare decoctions, infusions, teas based on medicinal herbs. They are used as components of complex therapy or independent supporting agents. Treatment of hypercholesterolemia will be effective if you use dandelion root, flaxseed, rose hips, beans, alfalfa, etc. Means prepared according to folk recipes are easy to prepare and are available:

1. 60 g of hemp stem roots pour 1 liter of water, boil and simmer over low heat for 10 minutes. Take 100 g before meals every 4 hours. For those who cannot stand the smell of the window sill, you can add a little lemon balm to the broth.
2. 1 teaspoon of wormwood annual (preferably leaves) pour 1 liter of boiling water, insist. The tea should taste good, slightly bitter. Drink 1 glass 20 minutes after eating three times a day.
3. Place 20 g of dried rose hips in an enamel bowl and pour a glass of boiled water. Place in a water bath, put on a small fire, simmer for 15 minutes, then cool and strain. Drink half a glass twice a day.
4. Grind milk thistle seeds to a powder state, take 1 teaspoon with food.

Nutrition Features

To remove excess cholesterol from the body, the diet should be followed for more than one month. The diet of a person suffering from pathology should be varied, balanced, consist of products and dishes that normalize metabolism, have an anti-sclerotic effect, be supplemented with vitamins, mineral complexes.

Hypercholesterolemia is a significant increase in blood cholesterol levels. As a result of changes in cholesterol levels, there is a predisposition to various diseases. Especially, a highly elevated level of this blood component affects the cardiovascular system. The presence of this deviation leads to the occurrence of atherosclerosis, cardiac ischemia, stroke, and other serious diseases, which can result in death. Constant monitoring of cholesterol levels in the body eliminates the possibility of various diseases.

The development of hypercholesterolemia can be the result of various pathologies in the body and not only. Often, external physical influences or psychological factors affect the level of cholesterol in the body.

There is a high probability of getting this disease as a result of a hereditary factor. Most getting a chance of hypercholesterolemia comes from parents suffering from the disease together.

At the first appointment with a doctor, the patient's daily diet is first determined. In most cases, the development of high cholesterol is the result of overeating foods containing high cholesterol. Such products can be both vegetable and animal fats.

On a note! If, during the test, the total cholesterol level goes off scale, it is recommended to retake the data analysis. This is due to the fact that often patients violate the rules for taking a blood test.

If the blood test contains a high level of cholesterol, it is recommended to repeat the donation procedure. If in the second analysis the cholesterol level is close to the results of the first one, this indicates that high cholesterol was not the result of an incorrect analysis.

If no pathology is found in the body that leads to dysfunction of organs or the body as a whole, the presence of the following diseases affecting cholesterol levels is possible:

1. Diabetes. Violation of glucose metabolism in the body contributes to a change in cholesterol.
2. Hypothyroidism. This is a thyroid disease caused by a lack of hormones.
3. Various diseases with pronounced symptoms affecting the functioning of the liver.

Hypercholesterolemia is the result of taking various medications. In particular, you should pay attention to the use of immunosuppressants and beta-blockers.

When diagnosing the occurrence of this pathology of the blood composition, an independent effect on the blood content is often taken into account. A sedentary lifestyle, unhealthy diet and the presence of bad habits - all this affects the level of cholesterol in the body. This is especially true for alcoholic and nicotine products.

Hypercholesterolemia can also occur after the transition to another age category. Especially, the strong occurrence of pathology increases in the presence of heredity. As a result of the transition to an older age, hypertension occurs, which also affects the level of cholesterol in the body.

Previous diseases of the cardiovascular system have a strong effect on cholesterol levels. Especially after suffering a myocardial infarction.

Pathogenesis

The pathogenesis or biochemistry of hypercholesterolemia occurs as a result of impaired lipid synthesis in the body.

With food intake, various fatty structures enter the body, which have a different classification: free cholesterol and esters, and fats and others.

After entering the listed ingredients, the body tries to break down these structures into components. Each type of fat is processed exclusively by a specific enzyme in the body.

After a multi-stage processing of fats that have entered the body, the final product enters the peripheral blood vessels through the lymphatic system.

In the human body, fats obtained through nutrients cannot move independently through the human body. For this, lipoproteins are provided in the body, which are a transport system for newly arrived fats.

In the presence of hypercholesterolemia, it is lipoproteins that are the main source of the problem. Disrupted work of lipoproteins affects the level of cholesterol in the body.

Disrupted work of lipoproteins causes low-density and very low-density lipoproteins to stick to red blood cells and spread throughout the body.

For cholesterol, the transport system is precisely low-density lipoproteins. Therefore, when the functions of low-density lipoproteins are impaired, an abundant amount of cholesterol appears in the vascular system of the body.

Over time, high-density lipoproteins are able to eliminate excessive amounts of low-density lipoproteins. Thus, it turns out, to eliminate cholesterol plaques that settle on the walls of blood vessels.

All of the above, we can conclude that the occurrence of hypercholesterolemia is due to improper functioning of low-density lipoproteins. Or the simultaneous absence of the required amount of high density lipoproteins.

Familial hypercholesterolemia

Familial hypercholesterolemia is a hereditary disease. In 10% of cases, familial hypercholesterolemia affects the coronary arteries and can be diagnosed in adolescents.

This disease occurs as a result of a violation or mutation of a gene. Most often, this disease manifests itself in children whose parents lived in the territory polluted with exhaust from industrial plants.

The essence of this disease lies in the fact that lipoproteins are not able to transport the required amount of cholesterol to the organs. At the same time, the growth of the synthesis of cholesterol plaques increases.

Eating a high amount of cholesterol in the body starts the process of deposition in places where cholesterol should not appear. As a result, atherosclerosis and other diseases caused by blockage of blood vessels are formed.

Diagnostics

Diagnosis in hypercholesterolemia includes the presence of several points:

• The beginning of the appearance of diseases such as deli, lipoid corneal arch and xanthelasma;
• Clarification of the patient's history;
• Physical examination of the patient;
• Obtaining a lipidogram;
• The presence of inflammatory processes in the body;
• Analysis of various liquids for content;
• If necessary, a genetic study is carried out;
• Arterial pressure.

Treatment

How to properly treat hypercholesterolemia is complex. This combines pharmacological and non-pharmacological methods.

Non-pharmacological methods include weight control, active physical activity, a balanced diet and the rejection of bad habits.

Medications

Medications in the treatment of high cholesterol are used only in cases where physical therapy in combination with diet does not give significant results.

In most cases, patients are prescribed a course of treatment with statins. These drugs are specifically designed to lower high cholesterol levels. This happens due to the inhibition of the enzyme, which contributes to the activation of cholesterol production in the body. In fact, this drug has a strong effect on the liver.

Fibrates may be given in conjunction with statins. Fibrates are needed to lower lipid and triglyceride levels. At the same time, drugs contribute to the production of high-density lipoproteins, which, in turn, helps to eliminate cholesterol in the body.

Alternative medicine

Alternative medicine treatment can only be applied in case of a slight increase in cholesterol in the body. The use of natural ingredients in recipes reduces cholesterol levels slightly. For a stronger effect, it is necessary to use concentrated combinations of various components that do not exist in nature.

Diet

The first step in the treatment of hypercholesterolemia is following a proper diet.

The diet for high cholesterol is mainly to limit the amount of cholesterol per day.

On a note! Avoiding cholesterol completely can significantly reduce its level in the body. However, an excessively low level also affects the body and can become a prerequisite for the development of complications.

The cholesterol diet eliminates foods that contain high levels of cholesterol from the diet. These products include fatty meat, fatty dairy products, some types of fish.

Only a dietitian can determine the right diet. Its main task is based on the daily intake of cholesterol, and it is equal to 300 milligrams. Make a list of products that will not exceed this rate, subtracted as a percentage.

As a rule, after compiling a diet, the daily level is reduced to the level of 200 milligrams.

Lifestyle

It is especially important in the treatment of high cholesterol to maintain a correct lifestyle. It consists in maintaining an active lifestyle and the rejection of factors that help in the development of diseases.

Prevention

Prevention of hypercholesterolemia is to eliminate factors in your life that can cause high cholesterol. These include: excessive weight, eating fatty foods, lack of an active lifestyle, the presence of bad habits, ignoring the first symptoms of the disease.

Hypercholesterolemia is a high level of cholesterol in the body. The consequences of this pathology can be expressed in various diseases. In most cases, these diseases are associated with the cardiovascular system. With timely treatment and treatment, it is possible to eliminate high cholesterol levels if the disease was not caused by a gene mutation or heredity.

13. Hypercholesterolemia, its causes, consequences. Nutrients that lower cholesterol.

Hypercholesterolemia is an excess of the normal concentration of cholesterol in the blood. The norm is 200 ± 50 mg / dl (5.2 ± 1.2 mmol / l) and, as a rule, increases with age.

Hypercholesterolemia often develops as a result of excessive intake of cholesterol from food, as well as carbohydrates and fats. Proper nutrition throughout life is the most important factor in the prevention of hypercholesterolemia. Hereditary factors play an important role in the predisposition to the development of atherosclerosis.

Reduce cholesterol: olive oil; other vegetable oils; sea ​​fish oil; vegetable products rich in water-soluble fiber (cereals, wholemeal flour), pectin (apples, berries), soybeans. Water-soluble fiber or dietary fiber, which is found only in foods of plant origin, reduces the absorption of cholesterol in the intestine and reduces the concentration of total cholesterol by 10% and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol by 12% in blood serum.

14. Atherosclerosis: biochemical causes, metabolic disorders, biochemical diagnostics, complications. Risk factors in the development of atherosclerosis, their mechanisms of action, prevention.

Atherosclerosis is the most common chronic disease that affects the walls of the arteries, resulting from a violation of the processing of fats (cholesterol, lipoproteins) in the body. There is an accumulation of cholesterol, and its deposition in the form of an outgrowth of "atherosclerotic plaques" in the inner wall of the vessels (intima), as a result of which the wall of the arteries loses its elasticity, thickens, narrows the lumen and, as a result, the blood supply to the organs is disturbed.

Risk factors in the development of atherosclerosis:

Irrational nutrition. Constant consumption of food with a high content of fats and cholesterol; Obesity leads to the deposition of cholesterol on the walls of blood vessels; Hereditary predisposition (as a result of a congenital deficiency of certain enzymes involved in the breakdown of fats, their level in the blood increases and deposits in the walls of blood vessels); Male gender (women are protected to a certain extent by female sex hormones); Smoking (tobacco contains substances that affect the wall of blood vessels); Diabetes mellitus (violation of fat metabolism); Old age (associated with lifestyle); Hormonal changes in the body; High blood pressure (damage to the inner wall of the arteries, leading to the deposition of cholesterol in damaged areas); Chronic alcohol use (decreased liver function, where fat is broken down); Psycho-emotional stresses (increase the level of cholesterol in the blood, damage to the arterial wall due to its toxic effect and its deposition on it); Ischemic heart disease leads to a violation of the structure of the vascular wall and the loss of cholesterol into it.

Metabolic disorders in atherosclerosis are very diverse and are mainly reduced to hypercholesterolemia, hyperlipoproteinemia, dysproteinemia and the accumulation of coarse proteins.

Complications of atherosclerosis: angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, atherosclerosis of cerebral vessels (psychic damage), trophic ulcers and gangrene of the limb, thrombosis of mesenteric vessels.

Diagnosis of atherosclerosis- biochemical blood test (lipidogram), dopplerography, angiography.