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Hyperlipidaemia and lipid-lowering medicines

Hyperlipidaemia means that you have too much lipid in your blood. The two most important lipids in your blood are cholesterol and triglyceride.

There is evidence that lowering cholesterol is effective in the prevention of coronary heart disease (CHD).

The first steps in lowering cholesterol include having a low fat diet, giving up smoking, limiting alcohol intake and increasing exercise levels. If your blood test shows hyperlipidaemia you should take steps to lower the levels.

If lifestyle changes do not work your doctor may recommend that you start taking a lipid-lowering medicine.

You and your GP may also consider treatment with a lipid-lowering medicine if you have been diagnosed with CHD. Also if you are at risk of developing CHD and are in a risk group e.g. you smoke, have high blood pressure (hypertension), have diabetes mellitus, are physically in active or have a family history of premature CHD.

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