Dyslipidemia, which is classified as an ‘underlying disease’ along with hypertension, diabetes, etc., refers to a condition where an abnormality occurs in the metabolism of blood lipids. Precisely, it refers to a condition where blood lipids or fat components are contained excessively, and includes hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, and low good cholesterol (HDL cholesterol).
When lipid metabolism is abnormal, the lipid concentration increases or decreases abnormally, and atherosclerosis occurs or progresses. In addition, in most cases, special symptoms are evident in dyslipidemia, and if it is not treated for a long time, cholesterol accumulates on the walls of blood vessels and narrows or blocks them, which can cause cardiovascular diseases and cerebrovascular such as angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, and stroke (brain infarction) Because of this, control is necessary.
According to the ‘2020 Fact Sheet’ released by the Korean Society for Lipid and Atherosclerosis, 2 out of 5 adults aged 20 or older in Korea need treatment for dyslipidemia such as hypercholesterolemia. However, they found that only 40% of patients continued treatment to the end. Although receiving treatment, regular tests showed normal values, so there are many patients who arbitrarily stop and stop treatment. Therefore, experts recommend that you continue to receive treatment and consult a specialist.
Dyslipidemia is an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease △High bad cholesterol (LDL cholesterol) △High triglycerides △High cholesterol (bad cholesterol + good cholesterol (HDL cholesterol) + triglycerides) △Good cholesterol This is true with low HDL cholesterol.
The condition of high total cholesterol or LDL cholesterol, which is the main culprit of atherosclerosis, is called hypercholesterolemia, and the condition of high triglycerides is called hypertriglyceridemia, and both are called ‘hyperlipidemia’.
Cholesterol also has good cholesterol. That’s HDL cholesterol. HDL cholesterol, which prevents atherosclerosis, increases the risk of coronary artery disease if its concentration is appreciated.
The general standard for appropriate lipids for adults is △ LDL (bad) cholesterol 130mg/dL △HDL (good) cholesterol 40mg/dL △total cholesterol 200mg/dL △triglyceride 150mg/dL. Here, experts recommend 60 mg/dL of HDL cholesterol.
If dyslipidemia is detected, treatment with drugs, including statins, is performed. The dose of statin is adjusted to reach the LDL cholesterol target value according to the risk of cardiovascular disease. If it is difficult to control LDL cholesterol to less than 70 mg/dL even with the highest dose of a statin, additional administration of ezetimibe, a drug that inhibits cholesterol absorption, can be considered.
In addition to drug treatment, it is important to improve dietary habits in the management of dyslipidemia. Since Korea has a culture of serving various side dishes with rice, carbohydrate intake is high. Therefore, experts recommend eating whole grains such as multigrain and whole wheat instead of white rice, and eating raw vegetables, beans and fish instead of red and processed meat as side dishes.
Exercise should also not be missed. Regular exercise improves lipid and insulin sensitivity, vascular endothelial cell function, and improves risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, such as lowering blood pressure and stabilizing autonomic nerves. In particular, reducing body fat and maintaining an appropriate weight through aerobic exercise that increases oxygen consumption is of great help in managing dyslipidemia.
Additionally, if you relieve muscle fatigue and relieve tension through flexibility exercises such as stretching, it can help blood circulation.
