Lipid and Cholesterol Disorders

Lipid and cholesterol disorders are medical conditions in which a person’s lipoproteins that carry cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood have gotten out of balance, potentially putting the person at higher risk for heart disease (atherosclerosis), peripheral artery disease and stroke. Such conditions may be referred to as dyslipidemia, hypolipidemia, high cholesterol, high triglycerides, high LDL and low LDL. In dyslipidemia, the levels of a person’s cholesterol, triglycerides, or both are too high. This occurs most often in patients who have a family history of high cholesterol and high triglycerides. Other contributing factors to dyslipidemia include consuming a diet that is high in saturated fats, cholesterol and trans fats; having diabetes or certain other medical conditions; living a sedentary lifestyle; abusing alcohol; and taking certain drugs.