Cardiology · Patient education

High Cholesterol & Triglycerides (Hyperlipidemia)

High cholesterol or triglycerides means there is too much fat in your blood. You usually can't feel it, but over time it can build up in your arteries and raise your chance of heart attack and stroke. A simple blood test finds it, and healthy habits and medicine can bring it down.

Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance. Your body needs some to build cells and make hormones. Triglycerides are another kind of fat in your blood that stores extra energy from food.

LDL is often called "bad" cholesterol because it can stick to artery walls and form plaque. HDL is called "good" cholesterol because it helps carry cholesterol away. When LDL or triglycerides are too high, plaque can slowly narrow your arteries.

Doctors call high blood fats "hyperlipidemia" or "dyslipidemia."

High cholesterol is very common. Millions of American adults have high LDL, and many don't know it because it causes no symptoms.

High triglycerides are also common, especially in people with diabetes, extra weight, or heavy alcohol use.

  • High LDL (hypercholesterolemia): too much "bad" cholesterol. This is the main type linked to heart attack and stroke.
  • Familial hypercholesterolemia: an inherited form that causes very high LDL from a young age. If one family member has it, others should be checked.
  • High triglycerides (hypertriglyceridemia): too much of this blood fat. Very high levels can also inflame the pancreas.
  • Mixed hyperlipidemia: both LDL and triglycerides are high, often with low HDL.

  • Genes and family history
  • Eating a lot of saturated fat (fatty meats, butter, fried food) and trans fat
  • Sugary drinks, sweets and refined carbs, plus alcohol (these raise triglycerides)
  • Extra weight and not much physical activity
  • Smoking (it lowers good HDL)
  • Type 2 diabetes, low thyroid, kidney or liver disease
  • Some medicines, such as steroids or certain HIV, transplant or acne medicines
  • Getting older, and menopause

Most people have no symptoms at all. Sometimes the first sign is a heart attack or stroke, which is why testing matters.

At your visit, your provider checks your weight, waist size and blood pressure. In people with very high levels, they may look for yellowish fatty bumps on the skin, eyelids or tendons (like the back of the heel), or a gray ring around the colored part of the eye at a young age.

A blood test called a lipid panel measures total cholesterol, LDL, HDL and triglycerides. Many people don't need to fast first; your provider will tell you.

Other lab tests your provider may order include: blood sugar or A1C, thyroid tests (TSH), a comprehensive metabolic panel (liver and kidney function), and lipoprotein(a) and apolipoprotein B (apoB), which we routinely order because they give more detail about your risk.

We also routinely order a coronary artery calcium scan to help decide on treatment. We don't do X-rays or other imaging at our office; we refer you to a trusted outside center and review the results with you.

Treatment depends on your numbers and your overall heart risk. Your plan may include:

  • Eating more vegetables, fruits, beans, whole grains, nuts and fish; less fatty meat, fried food, sweets and sugary drinks.
  • Moving more, most days of the week.
  • Losing weight if needed, quitting smoking and limiting alcohol (very important for high triglycerides).
  • Medicines: statins are the most common and lower LDL and heart risk. Others may be added if needed. Some medicines target high triglycerides.
  • Repeat lipid tests to see how treatment is working.
  • Telling your provider about muscle aches or other side effects instead of stopping medicine on your own.

High cholesterol is usually a long-term condition. With habits and, when needed, medicine, most people can lower their numbers.

Lowering LDL reduces the chance of heart attack and stroke over time. Results vary from person to person, and no treatment removes all risk.

Call 911 for signs of heart attack or stroke: chest pain or pressure; pain spreading to the arm, jaw or back; shortness of breath; cold sweat; face drooping, arm weakness or trouble speaking. Also call 911 for sudden severe belly pain with vomiting if you've been told your triglycerides are very high, because this can be a concern for pancreatitis (an inflamed pancreas).

Call us at (818) 660-2977 if you have unexplained muscle pain or weakness, dark urine, or yellow skin or eyes while taking cholesterol medicine, or if you have questions about your results.

Your primary care team at Moaddel Medical orders your lipid panel and related tests, estimates your heart risk with you and builds a plan that fits your life.

We follow your numbers over time and refer you to a cardiology partner when you need specialty care, such as for very high or inherited cholesterol.

We're at 7230 Medical Center Dr, Suite 100, West Hills, CA 91307.

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Questions about high cholesterol & triglycerides (hyperlipidemia)?

Start with a visit at Moaddel Medical, 7230 Medical Center Dr, Suite 100, West Hills, CA 91307. We'll review your concerns and plan next steps together.

Book a visitCall (818) 660-2977

Education only. This information is for general education and is not medical advice. It does not replace a visit with a qualified health care provider. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call 911 right away.

Sources

Last reviewed: Pending medical review