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Hyperlipidemia
Can people with hyperlipidemia eat beef?
People with hyperlipidemia can consume beef in moderation, but not in excess. This is because beef contains a relatively high amount of saturated fatty acids. Fatty acids can be divided into saturated and unsaturated fatty acids. Excessive intake of saturated fatty acids can lead to increased cholesterol, triglycerides, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in the blood, subsequently causing the narrowing of arterial lumens, forming arteriosclerosis, and increasing the risk of coronary heart disease. Therefore, due to the high content of saturated fatty acids in beef, its consumption should be limited and not excessive.
What is the standard for hyperlipidemia?
A lipid panel typically includes five tests: triglycerides, cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL). If triglycerides are greater than 1.69 mmol/L, total cholesterol is greater than 5.2 mmol/L, HDL is lower than 0.78 mmol/L, LDL is higher than 0.78 mmol/L, and VLDL is higher than 3.64 mmol/L, these conditions can collectively be diagnosed as hyperlipidemia. Each component of the lipid panel can vary, and different elevations require different medications. For example, the drugs used to lower triglycerides are completely different from those used to lower cholesterol.
Can people with hyperlipidemia drink alcohol?
This depends on the situation. If it's just simple hyperlipidemia, it is generally considered appropriate to limit alcohol consumption. Studies have shown that alcohol can increase the levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) in the plasma, which is a positive aspect. However, it can also increase the synthesis of triglycerides. As long as alcohol intake is kept below 30 grams per day, or hard liquor does not exceed 50 grams per day, the impact on blood lipids is relatively small. However, it is not advocated to increase plasma HDL levels through drinking. Therefore, if there are no other factors that contraindicate alcohol consumption, such as poor liver function or some acute cardiovascular or cerebrovascular events, it is appropriate to limit alcohol consumption in cases of simple hyperlipidemia, ideally not exceeding 30 grams per day or 50 grams per day for hard liquor.
Can people with hyperlipidemia eat walnuts?
People with hyperlipidemia can eat walnuts. Primarily, walnuts contain unsaturated fatty acids, which can lower plasma cholesterol levels, low-density lipoprotein levels, and increase high-density lipoprotein levels in the blood. However, as these unsaturated fatty acids are high in calories, excessive intake can lead to overweight or obesity. Therefore, even the unsaturated fatty acids in the diet should not be consumed in excess. Thus, people with hyperlipidemia can eat walnuts, but they should not consume them in large quantities. Moderate consumption is advised, as excessive intake could lead to excessive calories, causing obesity or overweight.
What are the harms of hyperlipidemia?
Long-term hyperlipidemia can cause a series of serious harms to the human body, including arterial atherosclerosis and acute pancreatitis, among others. It first leads to liver function damage, can induce fatty liver, and even lead to liver cirrhosis. Long-term hyperlipidemia also causes arterial atherosclerosis, followed by the formation of coronary heart disease, cerebral infarction, and other ischemic cardiovascular and cerebrovascular accidents. At the same time, hyperlipidemia can also be accompanied by hypertension, making the body's blood vessels more fragile and more likely to suffer from severe diseases such as hemorrhagic stroke. Therefore, for patients with hyperlipidemia, it is essential to control the condition actively through diet, physical exercise, and appropriate medication.
What is good to eat for hyperlipidemia usually?
Patients with hypertension need to routinely use lipid-regulating drugs under the guidance of a doctor. Additionally, dietary adjustments are necessary. It is advisable to minimize consumption of foods high in cholesterol, such as fatty meats, offal, and fried foods. Instead, patients should eat foods rich in vitamins, dietary fiber, and minerals, such as fruits and vegetables, along with foods that are lower in calories and cholesterol, such as soy products, oatmeal, yogurt, sea cucumber, lean beef, lean pork, lean lamb, carrots, onions, cabbage, radishes, and hawthorn.
What to eat for hyperlipidemia?
The definition of hyperlipidemia mainly depends on which type of lipid is elevated in the blood, the most common being hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia. Hypercholesterolemia is generally caused by abnormal metabolism in the body, and at this time, it is mainly necessary to take statin drugs to ensure that the blood lipids reach a normal value range. Because hypercholesterolemia usually accompanies hyper-low-density lipoproteinemia, the increase in low-density lipoprotein is damaging to the cardiovascular system. Another type of lipid disorder is hypertriglyceridemia, which in most cases is related to diet. Therefore, at this time, it is necessary to advise the patient to follow a low-fat diet, and if the triglycerides are greater than 4.5 mmol/L, it is advisable for the patient to take fibrate drugs to reduce lipids. (Please take medication under the guidance of a professional physician.)
What medicine should I take for hyperlipidemia?
In clinical practice, the basic tests for blood lipids include total cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. When hyperlipidemia is diagnosed, the first approach is to implement comprehensive treatment measures, starting with therapeutic lifestyle changes, which are fundamental and primary measures for controlling abnormal blood lipids. Medication should be used when necessary, strictly according to indications, and with careful monitoring of adverse drug reactions. The main categories of lipid-lowering drugs include: first, statins, such as atorvastatin, rosuvastatin, pravastatin, simvastatin, and pitavastatin; second, fibrates, such as fenofibrate and bezafibrate; third, niacin; and fourth, bile acid sequestrants. (The use of these drugs should be under the guidance of a doctor.)
The causes of hyperlipidemia
Regarding the causes of hyperlipidemia, it is generally categorized into primary and secondary types based on the causes. Primary hyperlipidemia is mainly due to genetic defects, such as certain familial hypercholesterolemia and familial mixed dyslipidemia, which are often caused by genetic defects. Secondary hyperlipidemia generally involves some acquired factors, including, for example, high fat content in the diet, which is a common cause of lipid abnormalities. Additionally, obesity can lead to increased plasma cholesterol. Long-term heavy drinking can also increase triglycerides in the blood. Smoking can also cause some drugs, such as estrogen, to raise blood triglycerides. Some glucocorticoids can also increase the synthesis of low-density lipoproteins, and so on. Other causes include diseases such as diabetes, kidney disease, estrogen deficiency, hypothyroidism, systemic lupus erythematosus, glycogen storage diseases, and certain types of malnutrition, which can also lead to secondary lipid abnormalities. Therefore, the causes of hyperlipidemia are multifaceted.
Can people with hyperlipidemia drink alcohol?
If hyperlipidemia can exclude some secondary causes or diseases, moderate alcohol consumption is permissible, because alcohol can increase the level of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) in the plasma. However, research has confirmed that long-term excessive drinking can inhibit the oxidation of fatty acids in the liver and increase the synthesis of fatty acids, leading to excessive production of triglycerides and raising the level of triglycerides in the plasma. Therefore, it is recommended that alcohol intake be generally less than 30 grams per day, and for spirits, not exceed 50 grams per day. Moderate drinking is acceptable, but of course, this excludes cases where alcohol consumption is not permissible, such as in patients with liver or kidney failure or acute complications of diabetes. If the overall physical function is stable and it is merely a case of hyperlipidemia, moderate alcohol intake is permissible.