Lipid Management

Lipids, more commonly known as cholesterol, are tiny particles that are present in your blood. These natural substances serve several functions in your body. They are crucial for energy storage and development of cell membranes. There are several types of lipids present in your body:

• Good cholesterol, also known as HDL (high density lipoproteins)

• Bad cholesterol, also known as LDL (low density lipoproteins)

• Triglycerides, which are a type of fat in the blood

High levels of cholesterol are bad for you because they cause a hard substance called plaque to build up in your arteries, that is, the blood vessels that carry oxygen rich blood to your organs. Plaque causes the arteries to become narrow and restrict the amount of oxygen received by your organs causing their functions to become impaired. This disease is known as atherosclerosis and it affects all areas of your body, including the heart, limbs, kidney and brain.

There are several factors contributing to lipid disorders, such as:

• Family history

• Diabetes

• Obesity

• Unhealthy diet

• Smoking

As a result, you may suffer from various vascular diseases (diseases affecting the vessels) such as:

• Coronary heart disease, that is, those diseases that affect the arteries supplying blood to the heart.

• Carotid artery disease, that is, those diseases that affect the arteries located in the neck and deliver blood to the brain.

• Peripheral artery disease, that is, those diseases that affect arteries that carry blood to your head, organs and limbs.

When to seek expert advice

​It is recommended that you should be regularly checked for cholesterol levels, especially around and after the age of thirty five. This is particularly important if you are in a high risk category for high cholesterol. This category includes smokers, people suffering from diabetes, overweight people, those with high blood pressure or with a history of heart disease. You can consult with the Department of Family Medicine or the Section of Cardiology.

At times, high cholesterol may be present in children and adolescents as well, in which case it is imperative to consult with a paediatrician and begin treatment immediately.