“My cholesterol was flagged as high at a health checkup.” “I’m concerned about my triglyceride levels.” “Someone in my family has had a stroke or heart attack.” — Dyslipidemia is a condition that can silently promote atherosclerosis without causing any noticeable symptoms.
Left untreated, it can become a major contributor to heart attacks and strokes. However, with dietary changes, exercise, and medication when needed, dyslipidemia can be effectively managed. Recognizing the condition early and taking appropriate steps is one of the best ways to protect your long-term health.
Keldsen Family Clinic is a family-oriented clinic offering both Psychosomatic Medicine and Internal Medicine, a 1-minute walk from ‘Oizumi Yubinkyoku’ bus stop, accessible by Seibu Bus from Oizumi-Gakuen Station. We are open on weekends and holidays and also offer telemedicine. “Going to a clinic feels a little scary” — we’d love to help you take that first step.
About Lifestyle-Related Diseases
Lifestyle-related diseases are a group of conditions in which daily habits — including diet, exercise, alcohol consumption, smoking, and stress — play a significant role in their onset and progression. Common examples include hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, and obesity.
Each of these conditions can promote atherosclerosis on its own, but when multiple conditions overlap, the risk increases synergistically. The combination of visceral fat obesity with hypertension, high blood sugar, and abnormal lipid levels — known as “metabolic syndrome” — significantly raises the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
Dyslipidemia is often detected during routine health checkups. Because it rarely causes noticeable symptoms, atherosclerosis may already be progressing without your awareness. If an abnormality has been flagged on a checkup, we encourage you to seek medical advice early.
What Is Dyslipidemia?
Dyslipidemia is a condition in which the balance of lipids in the blood — cholesterol and triglycerides — becomes disrupted. It was previously referred to as “hyperlipidemia,” but the name was changed to “dyslipidemia” in 2007 to also encompass cases where HDL (“good”) cholesterol is too low.
According to the Japan Atherosclerosis Society guidelines, dyslipidemia is diagnosed when any of the following criteria are met:
- LDL (“bad”) cholesterol: 140 mg/dL or higher
- HDL (“good”) cholesterol: below 40 mg/dL
- Triglycerides: 150 mg/dL or higher (fasting) or 175 mg/dL or higher (non-fasting)
- Non-HDL cholesterol: 170 mg/dL or higher
When LDL cholesterol is elevated, cholesterol accumulates in the walls of blood vessels and promotes atherosclerosis. When HDL cholesterol is low, the body’s ability to remove cholesterol from blood vessels is weakened. When triglycerides are elevated, HDL levels tend to decrease while LDL particles become smaller and more likely to penetrate artery walls.
The causes of dyslipidemia include genetic predisposition as well as lifestyle factors such as diet, lack of exercise, obesity, smoking, alcohol consumption, and stress. In some cases, it may also be triggered by conditions such as hypothyroidism, diabetes, or kidney disease, or by certain medications.
At Keldsen Family Clinic, we confirm your lipid levels through blood tests and also evaluate whether other lifestyle-related diseases or underlying conditions may be present.
Characteristics and Symptoms of Dyslipidemia
Dyslipidemia is characterized by the general absence of noticeable symptoms. It is most often discovered incidentally through blood tests during routine health checkups, and because there are no obvious warning signs, it tends to be left untreated.
Warning Signs and Complications
Signs You May Notice
- A health checkup result flagged as “needs re-examination” or “needs further testing”
- A family history of heart attacks or strokes
- Yellowish fatty deposits (xanthomas) around the eyes
- Noticeably thickened Achilles tendons
- Weight gain or increased waist circumference over the past few years
Complications of Leaving It Untreated
- Atherosclerosis: thickening and hardening of the blood vessel walls
- Angina / heart attack: blockage of blood vessels supplying the heart
- Stroke: blockage of blood vessels in the brain
- Peripheral artery disease: narrowing of blood vessels in the legs, leading to difficulty walking
- Acute pancreatitis: may occur when triglyceride levels are extremely elevated
Atherosclerosis progresses gradually, but it can manifest suddenly as a heart attack or stroke.
When to Seek Medical Attention
- Your checkup shows LDL cholesterol of 140 or higher, or triglycerides of 150 or higher
- A parent or sibling experienced a heart attack or stroke at a relatively young age (under 55 for men, under 65 for women)
- You have obesity, diabetes, or hypertension
- You are a smoker
- You are concerned about lack of exercise or poor dietary habits
Treatment and Management of Dyslipidemia
Treatment for dyslipidemia is built on a foundation of lifestyle changes — including diet, exercise, and weight management — combined with medication when necessary. The target values for lipid levels are determined individually based on your overall risk of atherosclerosis and the presence of other conditions.
1. Dietary Therapy
Diet is one of the most significant factors in managing lipid levels.
- Focus on a balanced diet: emphasize fish, vegetables, seaweed, soy products, and whole grains
- Reduce animal fats: limit butter, lard, and fatty cuts of meat
- Avoid trans fats: be mindful of processed foods made with margarine or shortening
- Increase dietary fiber: through vegetables, mushrooms, seaweed, and brown rice
- Include oily fish: EPA and DHA may help lower triglyceride levels
- Limit sweets and sugary drinks: this can be effective in reducing triglycerides
A dietary fat intake of around 20–25% of total calories is generally recommended as a guideline.
2. Exercise Therapy
Aerobic exercise can help raise HDL (“good”) cholesterol and lower triglyceride levels.
- Walking, light jogging, cycling, swimming, and similar activities
- Aim for 30 minutes or more, 3 to 5 times per week
- Small daily movements can also be beneficial — such as taking the stairs or walking an extra station
3. Medication
When lifestyle changes alone are not sufficient to reach target levels, or when atherosclerosis has already progressed, medication may be considered.
- Statins: the first-line treatment for lowering LDL cholesterol (e.g., atorvastatin, rosuvastatin, pitavastatin)
- Ezetimibe: reduces cholesterol absorption in the intestine; sometimes used in combination with statins
- Fibrates: used when triglyceride levels are elevated
- EPA supplements: may help lower triglycerides and are thought to have anti-atherosclerotic properties
- PCSK9 inhibitors: injectable medications used in severe cases or for familial hypercholesterolemia
Medication therapy is most effective when continued over the long term. It is important not to discontinue treatment on your own — please work with your physician to make any adjustments.
4. Managing Comorbidities
Diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and smoking all compound the risk of atherosclerosis when combined with dyslipidemia. Rather than addressing each condition separately, a comprehensive approach is essential.
5. Self-Care in Daily Life
- Quit smoking: one of the most effective measures for reducing atherosclerosis risk
- Moderate alcohol intake: excessive drinking can raise triglyceride levels
- Manage your weight: reducing visceral fat can improve triglyceride and HDL levels
- Get enough sleep: sleep deprivation can disrupt metabolic balance
- Have regular blood tests: tracking changes over time helps you see the results of your efforts
Dyslipidemia is a condition that, with early intervention and ongoing management, can help prevent serious events such as heart attacks and strokes. If you’ve been flagged at a health checkup, or if you’re concerned about lipid levels in your family, please feel free to reach out to Keldsen Family Clinic. We are a 1-minute walk from ‘Oizumi Yubinkyoku’ bus stop, accessible by Seibu Bus from Oizumi-Gakuen Station, open on weekends and holidays, and offer telemedicine as well.