Heart disease modifiable risk factors - hyperlipidemia
One of the major risk factors associated with heart disease is hyperlipidemia, especially elevated serum total cholesterol and LDL. Regular exercise, smoking cessation, weight reduction, and reducing the amount of fat in the diet can help lower elevated LDL and total cholesterol levels. Drugs that lower levels of total and LDL cholesterol in the blood, called lipid-lowering drugs, may also be used.
The benefits of lowering cholesterol levels are greatest in people with other risk factors, such as smoking, high blood pressure, obesity, and physical inactivity. Low levels of HDL, the good cholesterol, also increase the risk of CAD. The same lifestyle changes that lower total and LDL cholesterol levels can help increase HDL cholesterol levels, as can certain drugs.
Review Date: 7/3/2013
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