What are Lipid Disorders?

Lipid disorders are when you have excess fatty substances in your blood. These substances include cholesterol and triglycerides. Having a lipid disorder makes you more likely to develop atherosclerosis and heart disease. Arteriosclerosis, or Hardening of the arteries, occurs when plaque builds up inside of the arteries.  Basically, if your lipids are high then most often you also have high cholesterol.

Cholesterol can be bound to fat and protein at different densities. Two main types include:
                       Low-density lipoproteins (LDL) -- bad cholesterol
                       High-density lipoproteins (HDL) -- good cholesterol
In general, you want your LDL to be LOW, and your HDL to be HIGH.

High cholesterol and other lipid disorders can be inherited (genetic) or associated with:

• Fatty Diets
• Diabetes, Hypothyroidism, Cushing's Syndrome, and Kidney Failure
• Certain medications, including birth control pills, estrogen, corticosteroids, certain diuretics, and beta-blockers
• Lifestyle factors, including habitual, excessive alcohol use and lack of exercise, leading to obesity

Like high blood pressure, people often don't know that they have a lipid disorder because there are no symptoms.  The only way to know that you have a lipid disorder is to have it checked via a blood test.  Screenings are usually administered to people without current symptoms, but who may be at high risk for certain diseases or conditions.  A blood sample is taken from a vein in your arm. You may need to fast for several hours before your blood is taken.  The test measures levels of:
                      Total cholesterol
                      LDL (bad) cholesterol
                      HDL (good) cholesterol
                      Triglycerides
                      Cholesterol/HDL ratio ( should be less than 5)