Hyperlipidemia Care Plan

What is hyperlipidemia or high-cholesterol?
Cholesterol and triglycerides are lipids. When the concentration of triglycerides or cholesterol in your blood is too high, it is called hyperlipidaemia.
Having a lipid level that is too high increases your risk of heart attacks and strokes. A healthy diet and medicines can help lower you cholesterol.

There are 2 types of cholesterol:

LDL cholesterol. This is often referred to as bad cholesterol, as it is the one mainly involved in forming atheroma. Atheroma is the main underlying cause of various cardiovascular diseases. Usually about 70% of cholesterol in the blood is LDL cholesterol, but the percentage can vary from person to person.

HDL cholesterol. This is often referred to as good cholesterol, as it may actually prevent atheroma formation.
So you should aim for high HDL cholesterol and low LDL cholesterol in your body.

Why do I have hyperlipidaemia?
Hyperlipidaemia is often found when people are overweight or have an unhealthy diet. It can also be the result of drinking too much alcohol.
It can be something that you may have inherited through your family genes and approximately 1 person in 500 will have this cause.
It may be because of another medical condition that you may have, such as diabetes.

Other causes include

• an underactive thyroid,

• jaundice,

• renal failure

• Some prescribed medicines can also affect your cholesterol level.

There are usually no symptoms of high cholesterol unless it stays undetected for long time. But if you have high cholesterol and other disease risk factors, there can be serious health complications....more

High cholesterol is associated with an elevated risk of cardiovascular disease, which can include

• Coronary heart disease

• Stroke

• Peripheral vascular disease of legs and arms.

• Diabetes

• High blood pressure.

Cholesterol levels should be measured at least once every five years in everyone over age 20. The screening test that is usually performed is a blood test called a lipid profile.
Experts recommend that men ages 35 and older and women ages 45 and older be more frequently (once every year) screened for lipid disorders. The lipoprotein profile includes:

• Total cholesterol

• LDL (low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, also called "bad" cholesterol)

• HDL (high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, also called "good" cholesterol)

• Triglycerides (fats carried in the blood from the food we eat. Excess calories, alcohol, or sugar in the body are converted into triglycerides and stored in fat cells throughout the body.)

For the health of your heart, any type of exercise is better than none, but aerobic fitness has the most benefits.

Aerobic activity is exercise that causes your body to use oxygen in order to burn fat for energy. Typically, this requires activity that is sustained over a period of time and that uses the large muscles of your arms and legs. This type of exercise makes your heart work harder. Over time, it strengthens and conditions your heart.


What Should I Know About Aerobic Exercise?
Aerobic exercises should be done at least 30 min daily.
Some examples of aerobic activities include the following:

• walking

• jogging

• jumping rope

• cycling

• swimming

• rowing
• cross-country skiing
• dancing

• tennis

• It helps develop muscle strength and endurance.

• It may lower blood pressure.

• It helps control blood glucose.

• It helps prevent bone injuries, especially in older people.

• It makes everyday activities easier.

• 8 to 10 simple exercises that you can do at home

• a single set of 8 to 15 repetitions for each exercise

• doing all the exercises 2 to 3 days a week

• uncontrolled high blood pressure

• angina (chest pain) of recent onset, angina that occurs at rest, or frequent or severe angina
• uncontrolled heart rhythm problems called arrhythmia
• heart pumping problems called congestive heart failure
• heart valve disease

Apart from medicines, advice on lifestyle to reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease/ decrease cholesterol:

• Stop smoking if you smoke.

• Eat a healthy diet.

• Keep your salt intake to under 6 g a day.

• Keep your weight and waist in check.

• Take regular physical activity.    

• Cut back if you drink a lot of alcohol.

Healthy choices while eating out:

Many restaurants offer delicious, low-fat, low-cholesterol meals. These tips will help you make eating out healthy and enjoyable.

Before You Order

• If you are familiar with the menu, decide what to order before entering the restaurant. This tactic will help you avoid any tempting foods that may not be as healthy.

• Drink two full glasses of water before your food arrives.

• Avoid foods described in the following way: buttery, buttered, fried, pan-fried, creamed, escalloped, au gratin (with cheese), or a la mode (with ice cream).
• If you do eat bread before your meal, choose Melba toast or whole-grain rolls without butter or margarine.

• Order foods that are steamed, broiled, grilled, stir-fried, or roasted.
• Order potatoes baked, boiled, or roasted instead of fried. Ask the server to leave off the butter and sour cream.

• Order first so that you will not be influenced by other's choices.

• For appetizers, order broth-based soups instead of creamy soups or fried finger foods.

• Choose seafood, chicken, or lean red meat rather than fatty or processed meats; remove all visible fat from any meat.

• Ask for steamed vegetables instead of fries.

• Ask for the sauces and dressings on the side so you can control how much you eat.

• Ask the server about ingredients or preparation methods for the dishes you're not familiar with.

• For dessert, order sorbet or fresh, seasonal fruit without whipped cream or a topping.

Salad Tips

• When choosing from a salad bar, avoid items like grated cheese, potato salads, cream dressings, bacon bits, and croutons.

• Use a squeeze of lemon instead of dressing on salads. Or try rice vinegar or balsamic vinegar.

Diet tips
Add more soluble fiber (found in cereal grains, beans, peas, and many fruits and vegetables) to boost your LDL-lowering power.
The best way to know what's in the foods you eat is to read the nutrition label.

Lower cholesterol levels start at the grocery store. Read food labels, and buy foods low in saturated fat and low in cholesterol. Common examples are:

• Breads - Whole wheat, rye, pumpernickel, or white

• Soft tortillas - Corn or whole wheat

•  Hot and cold cereals - Except granola or muesli

•  Rice - White, brown, wild, basmati, or jasmine

• Grains - Bulgur, couscous, quinoa, barley, hominy, or millet

• Fruits - Any fresh, canned, dried, or frozen without added sugar

•  Vegetables - Any fresh, frozen, or (low-salt) canned without cream or cheese sauce

•  Fresh or frozen juices without added sugar

•  Fat-free or 1% milk

• Cheese with 3 grams of fat or less per serving

•  Low-fat or nonfat yogurt

• Lean cuts of meat - Eye of round beef, top round, sirloin, or pork tenderloin

• Lean or extra lean ground beef

• Chicken or turkey - White or light meat, skin removed

• Fish - Most white meat fish is very low in fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol.

• Tuna - Light meat canned in water

• Peanut butter, reduced fat

• Eggs, egg whites, egg substitutes

• Low-fat cookies or angel food cake

• Low-fat frozen yogurt, sorbet, sherbet

• Popcorn without butter or oil, pretzels, baked tortilla chips

• Margarine - Soft, diet, tub, or liquid

• Vegetable oil - Canola, olive, corn, peanut, or sunflower

• Nonstick cooking spray

• Sparkling water, tea, lemonade

Sample diet plan

Check this sample diet plan.