Q My health checkup showed high cholesterol, but I have no symptoms at all. What exactly is hyperlipidemia?
A Hyperlipidemia means your LDL cholesterol or triglycerides are high, or your good HDL cholesterol is low. It usually has no symptoms and is found on checkups, but left untreated it lets fat build up in blood vessel walls, raising the risk of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease.
Detailed Answer
Hyperlipidemia is a state where the blood contains too much lipid (fat), meaning bad LDL cholesterol or triglycerides are high, or good HDL cholesterol is low. There is almost no pain or discomfort to notice, so it is usually found through a blood test at a health checkup. The problem is that this excess lipid builds up in vessel walls over time, narrowing and hardening the arteries and eventually raising the risk of heart attack and stroke.
Our Korean Medicine Clinic's Perspective
Dongjedang's detox and diet clinic views high lipid levels as excess the body could not fully use, a form of phlegm-dampness (dameum) clogging the vessels and slowing circulation. Rather than simply pushing the numbers down, we work to clear the built-up excess and restore metabolism itself so blood flows clean. That is why we approach lipid levels and weight together.
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They say I'm not at the point of needing medication yet. If I manage it through diet, can I avoid medication? I want an honest answer.
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