Hyperlipidemia, also called hyperlipoproteinemia, is a condition that occurs when an elevated level of fats or lipids consisting of cholesterol, cholesterol compounds, phospholipids and triglycerides enter the bloodstream. Once inside the bloodstream these fatty substances attach to proteins and travel through the body in a liquefied form. When fats and proteins combine in the blood and move through the bloodstream they from into large molecules called lipoproteins. While the blood naturally contains a small amount of fats, excess fat in the blood can lead to serious health complications.
Arteriosclerotic Heart Disease
A serious complication associated with hyperlipidemia is a condition called arteriosclerotic heart disease, coronary heart disease or hardening of the arteries, says MedlinePlus from the National Institutes of Health. People with hyperlipidemia may experience arteriosclerotic heart disease when fats and other substances form a plaque buildup in the coronary arteries or the small blood vessels that supply blood and oxygen to the heart. Plaque formation narrows the arteries and prevents blood and oxygen from reaching the heart. As the disease progresses the blood vessels may become so constricted that blood and oxygen are unable to reach the heart, resulting in breathing problems, chest pain or heart attack.
Heart Attack
People who have hyperlipidemia are at risk for an early heart attack, says MedlinePlus. A heart attack can occur when blood clots prevent blood flow through the coronary arteries to the heart. When the heart does not receive an adequate amount of blood and oxygen, the heart muscle may become damaged or die. People with hyperlipidemia may experience a heart attack when cholesterol plaques accumulate in the coronary arteries and block blood and oxygen from reaching the heart. Symptoms of a heart attack may include pressure in the chest that lasts longer then a few minutes; sweating; shortness of breath; radiating pain that extends beyond the chest to the shoulders, jaw, arms and back; and nausea and vomiting.
Stroke
MedlinePlus notes that an increased risk of stroke is associated with hyperlipidemia. A stroke can occur when reduced blood flow to the brain deprives the brain tissue of oxygen and nutrients. When the brain does not receive blood and oxygen for several minutes, the brain cells begin to die. People with hyperlipidemia may experience a stroke when fatty plaques loosen from their constricted coronary arteries, lodge in the brain and block blood flow to that part of the body. Symptoms may develop suddenly without warning or they may occur off and on for several days preceding the stroke. Signs of a stroke may include muscle weakness, numbness or tingling on one side of the body; trouble speaking; decreased vision; dizziness; inability to stand, walk or move; confusion; loss of memory; and loss of consciousness.
