Hyperlipidemia: course and possible consequences
If hyperlipidemia remains untreated, it can lead to arteriosclerosis. Blood lipids such as LDL cholesterol can penetrate through the walls of blood vessels and lead to deposits called plaques. The plaques can thicken the vessel walls so much that they restrict blood flow. If the vessel wall is damaged at this point, blood platelets accumulate and a blood clot can form. This can cause the vessel to become blocked or the clot to enter the blood vessels of the brain, for example.
As a result, the risk of the following diseases increases:
High blood lipid levels can also cause fatty liver disease (steatosis hepatis), which can result in inflammation of the liver (steatohepatitis). In rare cases, severely elevated triglyceride levels can promote inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis).
A healthy lifestyle or, if necessary, treatment with medication can bring blood lipid levels back to normal and thus reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.