Dyslipidemia occurs when the levels of lipids (fats) in your blood are too high or too low. This can include high cholesterol and other conditions like high triglycerides. Dyslipidemia doesn’t usually cause any symptoms, but it can increase your risk of cardiovascular disease and other health issues.
Dyslipidemia is when the lipids in your blood are too high or too low. Estimates suggest that 53 percent of adults in the U.S. have lipid abnormalities.
Lipids are a type of fat that make up the building blocks of the structure and function of living cells. They include:
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol — aka the “bad” cholesterol
High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol — aka the “good” cholesterol
Triglycerides
There are a few different types of dyslipidemia. These include:
High LDL cholesterol
Low HDL cholesterol
High triglycerides
High total cholesterol (the sum of your LDL, HDL, and half your triglyceride levels)
High LDL cholesterol is the most common type of dyslipidemia; it’s also known as hyperlipidemia or simply high cholesterol. Hyperlipidemia happens when you have high levels of one or more lipids in your blood.
Low LDL cholesterol, which is less common, is also known as hypolipidemia (low cholesterol). Hypolipidemia is when your lipid levels are too low.
You might not notice any ongoing symptoms of dyslipidemia, but it can lead to serious health conditions if left untreated.
Dyslipidemia can increase your risk of:
Atherosclerosis — a build-up of plaque in your arteries
Inflammation
Cardiovascular diseases — such as stroke, coronary artery disease, peripheral artery disease, heart attack, and heart failure
Dyslipidemia can also increase complications related to other health conditions like obesity, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome.
Dyslipidemia doesn’t typically cause many symptoms. So, it’s possible to have dyslipidemia and not even know it.
However, as dyslipidemia worsens and begins causing health problems, symptoms may begin to surface.
Be on the lookout for:
Yellow bumps on your skin. Known as xanthomas, these are yellowish, waxy-looking bumps made up of fats. They can appear anywhere on your body, but especially on your eyelids, palms, and tendons. Xanthomas are a sign of high cholesterol or high triglycerides.
Chest pain. Angina, or chest pain, can develop if your dyslipidemia has caused plaque to build up in your arteries, making it harder for blood to get to your heart. You might notice pain in your chest, neck, jaw, back, or shoulders — the pain might increase when you exercise or get stressed. Chest pain can be a sign of heart disease due to high LDL cholesterol or high triglycerides.
A gray or white ring around your eyes. High cholesterol levels can cause arcus senilis, which presents as a gray-white ring around your eyes. It’s more common in older people, but occurs in younger people, too.
Blurred vision. High triglyceride levels can cause lipemia retinalis, a condition in which the veins and arteries in your eye become discolored, turning a creamy white or red color. You might notice blurred vision.
Pain or cramping in your legs. High levels of LDL, cholesterol, or triglycerides can cause peripheral artery disease, in which the arteries that carry blood to your legs can narrow or become blocked. You might notice pain or cramps in your legs when you walk or exercise, and the pain may go away when you rest.
Sudden weakness, slurred speech, visual disturbances, or stroke. Dyslipidemia can cause plaque to build up in the arteries responsible for carrying blood to your brain. This interruption of blood flow to the brain may affect your vision and speech and cause sudden feelings of weakness or stroke.
There are two main types of dyslipidemia:
Primary dyslipidemia. This type of dyslipidemia is inherited and caused by genetic mutations. This includes familial hypercholesterolemia (high cholesterol), familial hypertriglyceridemia (high triglycerides), and familial combined hyperlipidemia (high levels of both cholesterol and triglycerides).
Secondary dyslipidemia. This type of dyslipidemia is caused by lifestyle factors or other medical conditions, including:
Eating an unhealthy diet
Having a sedentary lifestyle
Drinking too much alcohol
Smoking
Using certain medications
Having medical conditions like obesity, diabetes, or liver disease
The risk factors for primary dyslipidemia include having a family history of the condition.
The risk factors for secondary dyslipidemia include:
Eating an unhealthy diet
Not exercising regularly
High alcohol consumption
Smoking
Obesity
Diabetes
Hypothyroidism
Liver disease
Chronic kidney disease
Pancreatitis
Taking certain medications like birth control pills, beta-blockers, corticosteroids, and antiretroviral drugs
Because dyslipidemia rarely involves many symptoms, diagnosing it can be especially difficult.
Your healthcare provider might ask for a family and medical history and ask about your diet, lifestyle, and whether you smoke, take certain drugs, or consume alcohol frequently.
If your healthcare provider thinks you have a high risk of dyslipidemia, they may test your lipid levels. This blood test measures the levels of different lipids in your blood to see if they’re too high or too low.
Lipids are measured in milligrams per deciliter or mg/dL. The right lipid levels for you will depend on your age, sex, and other factors.
LDL cholesterol | Less than 100 mg/dL |
HDL cholesterol | Above 40 mg/dL for men
Above 50 mg/dL for women |
Triglycerides | Less than 150 mg/dL |
Total cholesterol | Less than 200 mg/dL |
*Levels outside of these amounts may be classified as dyslipidemia.
Let’s break down the general classifications of lipid levels:
Optimal | Less than 100 mg/dL |
Near-optimal | 100–129 mg/dL |
Borderline high | 130–159 mg/dL |
High | 160–189 mg/dL |
Very high | 190 mg/dL or higher |
Low | Less than 40 mg/dL for men
Less than 50 mg/dL for women |
High | 60 mg/dL or higher |
Normal | Less than 150 mg/dL |
Borderline high | 150–199 mg/dL |
High | 200–499 mg/dL |
Very high | 500 mg/dL or higher |
Optimal | Less than 200 mg/dL |
Borderline high | 200–239 mg/dL |
High | 240 mg/dL or higher |
Dyslipidemia treatments vary depending on which lipids are too high or too low, how severe your condition is, and what’s causing it.
Your treatment may also vary if you have other health conditions, such as:
Obesity
Heart disease
Hypertension (high blood pressure)
Type 2 diabetes.
If your dyslipidemia is caused by a medical condition, your healthcare provider will look to treat the underlying condition. If it’s caused by unhealthy lifestyle factors, treatment will include making healthy lifestyle changes.
Secondary dyslipidemia — the kind caused by lifestyle factors — can be improved or even reversed.
This can make a big difference to your health. For example, lowering your LDL cholesterol by 1 millimole per liter (mmol/L) can reduce your risk of major vascular events by about 20 percent — regardless of your initial LDL level.
If you have dyslipidemia, your healthcare provider will explain your goals. These could include:
Lowering your LDL levels
Raising your HDL levels
Reducing your triglyceride levels
Lifestyle changes may be the key.
Your healthcare provider may recommend lifestyle changes such as:
Eating heart-healthy foods. This may include eating more fruits, vegetables, legumes (like chickpeas and beans), healthy fats (like avocados and olive oil), lean proteins (like chicken and tofu), and whole grains (like brown rice and oatmeal).
Following an eating plan. They may recommend a diet such as the Mediterranean diet, the DASH diet, or the Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes plan.
Getting more physical activity. Physical activity can help improve lipid levels and reduce your risk of other chronic conditions. Aim for 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic exercise per week. You should also try strength training at least twice a week. This could include doing bodyweight exercises, using dumbbells, or weightlifting.
Losing weight. If you have overweight or obesity, losing weight can help get your lipid levels within ideal ranges and reduce your odds of other health conditions. Weight loss medications can provide added support for some people. Drugs like Wegovy® and Zepbound® are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for those with overweight or obesity and dyslipidemia.
Quitting smoking. Quitting smoking can improve your lipid levels within weeks or months. You can quit by gradually cutting down, exploring medications or products to help you quit, and getting support from friends, family, a support group, or healthcare providers.
Your healthcare provider may recommend statins to treat your dyslipidemia.
Statins are medications that can lower cholesterol by reducing the body's production of the substance. They can also help reduce triglycerides and raise HDL cholesterol.
There are many different types of statins. The best one for you will depend on how severe your dyslipidemia is and how your body responds to the medication. Finding the best dose and type of statin for you may take a few tries.
Statin drugs include:
Pravastatin
Simvastatin
Atorvastatin
Rosuvastatin
You may be prescribed a statin for a short period of time, or be prescribed a statin alongside other treatments or medications.
Statin therapy isn’t for everyone, though. Your healthcare provider can walk you through the pros, cons, and side effects of these medications and help you find the best treatment for you.
Other medications for dyslipidemia include:
Ezetimibe
Inclisiran
Icosapent ethyl
Bempedoic acid
Fibrates
Bile acid sequestrants
Niacin
PCSK9 inhibitors
More research is needed to find out if supplements like green tea, ginger, garlic, fiber, and red yeast rice could help dyslipidemia.
Many of the ways to prevent dyslipidemia are the same as the lifestyle changes you might be prescribed if you’ve already developed the condition.
For example, you can reduce your chances of developing dyslipidemia by:
Eating nutritious foods
Engaging in regular exercise
Maintaining a healthy weight
Not smoking
Not drinking too much alcohol
Regular checkups can also help you catch signs of dyslipidemia early and take steps to prevent it from getting worse.
Let your healthcare provider know if you have a family history of dyslipidemia or risk factors for the condition. They may want to check your lipid levels every four to six years or so to make sure they’re within healthy ranges.