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Niveles altos de colesterol en la sangre - Overview

Nombres alternativos

Trastornos de lípidos (trastornos lipídicos); Hiperlipoproteinemia; Hiperlipidemia; Dislipidemia; Hipercolesterolemia

Definición:

El colesterol es una grasa (también llamada lípido) que el cuerpo necesita para funcionar apropiadamente. Los niveles de colesterol que son demasiado altos pueden aumentar su probabilidad padecer cardiopatía, accidente cerebrovascular y otros problemas.

El término médico para los niveles altos de colesterol en la sangre es trastorno lipídico o hiperlipidemia.

Causas:

Hay muchos tipos de colesterol. Los siguientes son los más nombrados:

  • Colesterol total: todos los colesteroles combinados.
  • Lipoproteína de alta densidad (colesterol HDL); con frecuencia llamado colesterol "bueno".
  • Lipoproteína de baja densidad (colesterol LDL); con frecuencia llamado colesterol "malo".

Para la mayoría de las personas, los niveles de colesterol anormales son el resultado de un estilo de vida malsano, que muy comúnmente incluye una alimentación rica en grasa. Otros factores del estilo de vida son:

  • Tener sobrepeso
  • Consumo excesivo de alcohol
  • Falta de ejercicio y llevar un estilo de vida inactivo

La diabetes y una glándula tiroides hipoactiva pueden llevar a niveles de colesterol altos. Otras enfermedades que pueden elevar los niveles de colesterol abarcan el síndrome ovárico poliquístico y la enfermedad renal.

Los niveles más altos de hormonas femeninas aumentan o cambian los niveles de colesterol. Esto puede incluir a mujeres que toman píldoras anticonceptivas o estrógenos, o que estén en embarazo.

Los medicamentos, como ciertos diuréticos, betabloqueadores y algunos medicamentos usados para tratar la depresión, también pueden elevar los niveles de colesterol.

Varios trastornos que se transmiten de padres a hijos llevan a que se presenten niveles anormales de colesterol y triglicéridos. Ellos abarcan:

El tabaquismo no causa niveles de colesterol más altos, pero puede reducir el colesterol HDL ("bueno").

  • Reviewed last on: 5/20/2011
  • David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

Referencias

American Heart Association. Drug therapy for cholesterol. 2011 Jan 20. Accessed February 21, 2011.

Daniels SR, Greer FR; Committee on Nutrition. Lipid screening and cardiovascular health in childhood. Pediatrics. 2008;122198-208.

Gennest J, Libby P. Lipoprotein disorders and cardiovascular disease. In: Bonow RO, Mann DL, Zipes DP, Libby P, eds. Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine. 9th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2011:chap 47.

U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Screening for lipid disorders in adults: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendation statement. Rockville (MD): Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ); 2008 Jun. Accessed May 19, 2011.

U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Screening for lipid disorders in children. U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendation statement. Rockville (MD): Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ); 2007 Jul. Accessed May 19, 2011.

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