High blood pressure and dyslipidemia, when not controlled, can cause serious damage to the cardiovascular system. The Cardiologist is responsible for diagnosing and regulating both hypertension and dyslipidemia. Most importantly, he will assess the severity of the condition and decide on the best treatment plan, which may include a combination of medications and lifestyle changes.
But what are these two conditions and what risks do they pose if they remain uncontrolled?
Hypertension
25% of adults in the Western world have a hypertension problem, but only 20% of hypertensives regulate their pressure, and as the pressure increases, the risk of serious complications, such as coronary artery disease, stroke and heart failure, increases.
When the heart contracts, it creates pressure as a mechanism to push blood through the arteries. This pressure is called systolic blood pressure. After contraction, the heart relaxes and is then called diastolic blood pressure. The factors that affect blood pressure are:
- The force with which the heart muscle contracts and pushes blood.
- The volume of blood circulating in the body.
- The resistance of the arteries to blood circulation.
Normally, blood pressure fluctuates during the day, decreases at night and increases again in the early morning hours, recording the highest pressure of the whole day. It is no coincidence that during the early morning hours or in moments of great tension, we have increased heart attacks.
Regulating blood pressure to normal levels is possible through medication, lifestyle modifications, or a combination of both. Monitoring by a Cardiologist is vital for effective regulation and management of risk parameters for the heart and blood vessels.
The goal is to reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases, such as stroke, heart attack or kidney failure.
If lifestyle changes, mainly regarding diet, exercise and stress reduction, are not enough, or if hypertension is severe, the Cardiologist will prescribe medications to help regulate blood pressure, in combination or separately, taking into account the interactions they may have with medications the patient is taking for other conditions.
Dyslipidemia
Dyslipidemia is a condition in which the levels of lipids (cholesterol and triglycerides) in the blood are high or out of balance. When their levels are too high, the risk of cardiovascular diseases, such as coronary heart disease, stroke and peripheral arterial disease, increases.
Dyslipidemia usually includes:
- High levels of cholesterol (especially LDL or “bad” cholesterol).
- High levels of triglycerides.
- Low levels of HDL cholesterol (known as “good” cholesterol).
Symptoms of dyslipidemia are usually subtle and the condition is diagnosed in blood tests or when it causes serious cardiovascular complications such as myocardial infarction, chest pain, difficulty breathing, the appearance of fatty deposits under the skin or around the eyes.
Dyslipidemia can be either hereditary (familial hypercholesterolemia, where there is a genetic predisposition for elevated cholesterol levels) or it can come from other causes such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, or renal failure, obesity, certain medications, such as contraceptives or corticosteroids, high consumption of saturated fats and sugar, lack of exercise, alcohol, smoking.
Treatment of dyslipidemia
Dyslipidemia is treated according to specific instructions from the Cardiologist regarding the changes that a person should make in their diet and lifestyle.
However, when it is not treated and lipid indices remain high, then medications are administered to achieve their proper regulation and reduce the risk of cardiovascular problems.
