Translations:Hyperlipidemia/32/en

Presentation

Relation to cardiovascular disease

Hyperlipidemia predisposes a person to atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is the accumulation of lipids, cholesterol, calcium, fibrous plaques within the walls of arteries. This accumulation narrows the blood vessel and reduces blood flow and oxygen to muscles of the heart. Over time fatty deposits can build up, hardening and narrowing the arteries until organs and tissues don't receive enough blood to properly function. If arteries that supply the heart with blood are affected, a person might have angina (chest pain). Complete blockage of the artery causes infarction of the myocardial cells, also known as heart attack. Fatty buildup in the arteries can also lead to stroke, if a blood clot blocks blood flow to the brain.