Hyperlipidaemia: Treatment, Cost and Side Effects

Hyperlipidaemia is a condition, which is commonly known as high cholesterol. Due to the condition, excess fatty substances called lipids are formed in the blood. This lipid formation causes severe issues in the body if left untreated for a longer period of time. While some of the cholesterol can be managed, others cannot. Even though Hyperlipidaemia is a treatable condition, there is no permanent cure for it. Treatment will need to continue for the rest of the patient’s life.

Lifestyle changes along with medication are the preferred form of treatment. The end goal is to reduce the bad cholesterol from the body, while at the same time keeping the good cholesterol level unaffected. A patient with high cholesterol has a higher risk of heart disease, stroke and heart attacks. Other health problems may also be caused as a result of high cholesterol.

The focus has to be on the diet and the overall level of activity that the patient undergoes each day. A person leading a relatively sedentary lifestyle has a greater risk of suffering from high cholesterol. Similarly, a person who does not consume a balanced diet and eats too much fatty foods will also have a greater risk of developing high cholesterol.

The first step for the treatment of high cholesterol is to alter the diet and lifestyle of the person affected. For instance, a person who does not exercise regularly will be asked to workout at least 5 days a week, if not more. The activity will rid the body of some of the excess lipid and fats in the blood stream, thus bringing the high cholesterol under control.

However, exercising alone will not be enough to rid the body off the bad cholesterol. Following a proper diet chart is just as important, if not more so. Cheese, egg yolks, ice cream, pastries, fried and processed foods and red meat are some of the foods that contain high amounts of bad cholesterol. So, a patient suffering from hyperlipidaemia must stay away from all of these foods. Doctors will also be able to advise on the food items that such a person should include in their daily diet.

While in most cases, the lifestyle changes will be enough to manage the condition, others will require treatment with medication in order to lead a normal life. Nicotinic acid is the preferred medication for the disease, as it modifies the liver functions and prevents the formation of fats. Resins are also used, as these medicines can help the body use up more of the bad cholesterol in the body.

If the cholesterol level is so high that it cannot be controlled by making lifestyle and diet changes, the medications may be used. A medical practitioner will conduct a lipoprotein panel blood test in order to determine the level of the cholesterol or lipids inside your body. The test results will show whether you require treatment or not.

People with mild hyperlipidaemia do not need to seek treatment in most cases. However, they should still visit the doctor to find out what kind of lifestyle and diet changes that they need to follow, in order to avert a more serious condition. Furthermore, people who have high fatty deposits in the body, but low lipid formation in the blood should also avoid the treatment for high cholesterol, even though the diet and lifestyle changes should be followed by such people as well.

Nicotinic acid is the primary form of treatment for high cholesterol. While the medicine is greatly useful, it does have some side effects. Patients on the medication may experience headache, burning, itching, sweating, dizziness, tingling and chills. Other severe side effects of the medication may include nausea, heartburn and diarrhoea. These effects can last between 20 minutes to 4 hours after the consumption of the drug.

Additionally, liver functionality may sometimes be adversely affected as a result of some of the drugs.

Treatment for high cholesterol is a lifelong procedure. Therefore the patient needs to keep taking the medication for the rest of their lives. Additionally, the lifestyle and diet changes should also be maintained, in order to prevent the condition from deteriorating. In some cases, people on medication may not require the drugs any longer and simply maintaining the diet and exercise schedule will be enough to keep the cholesterol levels controlled.

People with high cholesterol will be able to bring the same down over a period of time. No drug can lower the levels instantaneously. In order to control the lipid levels in the blood, staying physically active and maintaining a proper diet is essential. Usually, a person following the guidelines offered by the doctor will show improvements in a matter of months.

Price of treatment depends ona few factors. For instance, if medication is not prescribed, the treatment may cost the patient next to nothing. However, if the drugs are required to bring the high cholesterol levels under control, the cost of treatment may range from anywhere between Rs. 1,000 and Rs. 10,000, depending on the duration of the medication course.

The treatment will be effective only till the time the patient follows the diet and lifestyle guidelines advised by the doctor. Furthermore, patients requiring medication must continue taking them until the doctor asks them to stop. If the drugs are stopped without completing the full course, the lipid levels in the blood may rise once again.

While traditional medicine is the preferred form of treatment for the condition, some people may opt for homeopathic treatments as well. For instance, Allium Sativum is the go to natural remedy used to cure the presence of high levels of lipids in the blood. Apart from this, Aurum Metallicum is used to treat the condition in patients also experiencing high pulse rate. For overweight people, the medication named Calcarea Carbonica is used to treat high cholesterol.