Introduction.
When you hear the term "dyslipidemia," you may have the image of a disease with high cholesterol and triglyceride levels. While this is true, there is another important characteristic.
It is,Little or no subjective symptomsThat is to say.
If left without symptoms, arteriosclerosis will progress, eventually leading to serious complications such as myocardial infarction and cerebral infarction.
In this article, we will organize the symptoms and signs of complications that can occur with dyslipidemia and explain why testing is necessary before symptoms appear.
1. basics of dyslipidemia
Dyslipidemia is a condition in which blood lipids (cholesterol and triglycerides) increase or decrease beyond the normal range.
Three typical anomalies are as follows
- High LDL cholesterol (bad)
- Low HDL cholesterol (good)
- High triglycerides (triglycerides)
Each of these causes fat deposits in the walls of blood vessels, leading to atherosclerosis.
2. symptoms of dyslipidemia - in fact, "asymptomatic" is the majority
Dyslipidemia is like "hypertension," high blood pressure,No symptoms in the early stagesTherefore, in most cases, abnormalities are noticed only after a physical examination or blood test.
However, if left untreated, it will manifest itself as the following symptoms and diseases
Symptoms of progressive arteriosclerosis
- Chest pain or pressure(angina pectoris, myocardial infarction)
- Numbness and weakness of limbs(stroke)
- Calf hurts when I walk.(arteriosclerosis obliterans)
Symptoms seen in special cases
- Yellow lumps on the skin or joints (xanthomas)
- Clouding of the cornea (corneal ring)
- Acute pancreatitis (marked hypertriglyceridemia)Severe abdominal pain due to
These are just the “tip of the iceberg” that finally appears after a long period of dyslipidemia.
3. risk of leaving dyslipidemia untreated
Left untreated, dyslipidemia quietly progresses to atherosclerosis, increasing the risk of the following diseases
- Myocardial infarction or angina pectoris
- Cerebral infarction or hemorrhage
- Aortic aneurysm or arteriosclerosis obliterans
- Chronic kidney disease (CKD)
That is, even if there are no symptoms of dyslipidemia itself,Beyond that, there's the risk of life-threatening illness.The first is the
4. why is an examination necessary "even if there are no symptoms"?
Dyslipidemia is easily detected with a blood test. Particular attention should be paid to those with the following conditions
- Family history of myocardial or cerebral infarction
- Have diabetes or high blood pressure
- Fatty liver (MASLD) indicated
- Smoking habit.
- Lack of exercise and obesity.
At Ikejiri-Ohashi Sera Clinic,In addition to blood tests, fundus examination, ABI, carotid echocardiography, and other tests to assess cardiovascular riskWe aim for early detection of complications by combining the
5. what you can do before symptoms appear
It is important to practice the following at an early stage, as it is too late once symptoms appear.
- Routine blood tests (check LDL, HDL, triglycerides)
- Improve lifestyle (diet, exercise, weight management)
- Drug therapy as needed (e.g., statins)
“Asymptomatic does not mean ”safe. It is important to "visualize the risk" through testing and take early action with the physician.
summary
- Dyslipidemia isDisease with few initial symptoms。
- If left untreated, arteriosclerosis will progress, leading to life-threatening complications such as myocardial infarction and cerebral infarction.
- In addition to blood tests, evaluation of fundus, ABI, carotid echocardiogram, and Holter ECG are also useful.
- The Ikejiri-Ohashi Sera Clinic provides cross-sectional management of all lifestyle-related diseases, including dyslipidemia, and support to prevent complications.
References
- The Japanese Society for Arteriosclerosis. Guidelines for the Prevention of Arteriosclerotic Disease 2022.
- The Japan Society of Hypertension. Guidelines for the Treatment of Hypertension 2025.
- The Japan Diabetes Society. Diabetes Treatment Guide 2024-2025.
- Grundy SM, et al. 2018 AHA/ACC Guideline on the Management of Blood Cholesterol. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2019.