What Is Dyslipidemia?
 

Dyslipidemia is a general term to describe unhealthy cholesterol and/or triglyceride levels. Cholesterol and triglycerides serve important functions in the body, but an imbalance can lead to increased health risks. 
 

What Causes It?
 

Primary dyslipidemia is usually caused by factors including:
 

• Inherited monogenic defects of the lipid system (familial hypercholesterolemia, etc.)  

• Inherited polygenic susceptibility

Secondary or contributing factors, include: 
 

• Chronic nephrotic syndromes (FSGS, Membranous Nephropathy, Diabetic Nephropathy)

• Chronic Kidney Disease

• Poor diet

• Physical inactivity

• Obesity

• Smoking

• Alcohol

• Thyroid disorders

• Diabetes

• Cholestatic Liver Disease

• Certain medications (immunosuppressants, estrogen-containing oral contraception, antipsychotics, corticosteroids, thiazide diuretics)
   

How Is It Diagnosed?
 

A lipid panel measures:
 

• Total cholesterol

• LDL ("bad") cholesterol

• HDL ("good") cholesterol

• Triglycerides

These results are evaluated along with other cardiovascular risk factors. For appropriate adults ages 30–79 without known cardiovascular disease, the PREVENT-ASCVD Risk Calculator may be used to estimate 10-year and 30-year cardiovascular risk and help determine whether lipid-lowering medication may be beneficial. The PREVENT calculator considers factors such as age, sex, blood pressure, diabetes, smoking status, kidney function, cholesterol levels, and other factors to help determine whether lifestyle changes and/or medication may be beneficial. Additional testing may help further define cardiovascular risk. Lipoprotein(a), or Lp(a), is recommended at least once in adulthood. Selective testing may also include apolipoprotein B (ApoB), advanced lipoprotein particle testing, and coronary artery calcium (CAC) scoring when appropriate.

What Happens If It Is Not Treated?
 

There is an increased risk of many conditions including:
 

• Heart attack and heart disease

• Stroke

• Peripheral artery disease

Very high triglyceride levels may also lead to pancreatitis.

Treatments
 

• Lifestyle changes (nutrition, exercise, etc.)

• Medication

• Addressing secondary causes

LDL Goals
 

• Borderline risk (3% to <5%) or intermediate risk (5% to <10%): LDL-C goal <100 mg/dL

• High risk (≥10%): LDL-C goal <70 mg/dL

• Established ASCVD but not very high risk: LDL-C goal <70 mg/dL

• Established ASCVD w/ very-high-risk: LDL-C goal <55 mg/dL
  
                                                                       Medications
   

Statins/HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitors - Atorvastatin (Lipitor), Rosuvastatin (Crestor), Simvastatin (Zocor), Pravastatin (Pravachol)

Cholesterol Absorption Inhibitors - Ezetimibe (Zetia)

PCSK9 Inhibitors - Enlicitide (Lipfendra) or injectables: Alirocumab (Praluent), Evolocumab (Repatha)

ATP Citrate Lyase Inhibitors - Bempedoic acid (Nexletol)

Prescription Omega-3 Fatty Acids - Icosapent ethyl (Vascepa), Omega-3-acid ethyl esters (Lovaza)

Fibrates - Fenofibrate (Tricor), Gemfibrozil (Lopid)

Bile Acid Sequestrants - Cholestyramine (Questran), Colestipol (Colestid), Colesevelam (Welchol)

How Loria Mobile Medicine Can Help
 

I provide a cardiovascular disease risk assessment, lipid screening, accurate lipid disease diagnoses, medication management, and lifestyle counseling to help you achieve better health. I provide a  thorough review of the different lipid medications, their benefits, their costs and coverage, their side effects, and their efficacy. I also provide education on the guidelines set forth by the American Heart Association (AHA), including goal lipid levels and medication management. 

                                                       
                                                                 References & Guidelines
 

• Blumenthal RS, Morris PB, Gaudino M, et al. ACC/AHA/AACVPR/ABC/ACPM/ADA/AGS/APhA/ASPC/NLA/PCNA Guideline on the Management of Dyslipidemia: A Report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Joint Committee on Clinical Practice Guidelines. Circulation. 2026. doi:10.1161/CIR.0000000000001423.
  2026 Guideline on the Management of Dyslipidemia

• American Heart Association. Top Things to Know: Guideline on the Management of Dyslipidemia. 2026. This is a useful concise companion to the full guideline and covers PREVENT-ASCVD, LDL-C goals, Lp(a), and hypertriglyceridemia.
  AHA Top Things to Know

• American College of Cardiology. Lower Sooner: How the 2026 Dyslipidemia Guideline Changes Practice. Cardiology Magazine. 2026. This is especially useful for your specific LDL-C targets: <100 mg/dL for borderline/intermediate risk, <70 mg/dL for high risk, and the guideline's lower secondary-prevention targets.
  ACC Lower Sooner review

• American Heart Association. PREVENT™ Online Calculator. Used to estimate 10- and 30-year cardiovascular risk; the 2026 dyslipidemia guideline recommends PREVENT-ASCVD for primary-prevention risk assessment in adults 30–79 years old.
  AHA PREVENT resources

• American Heart Association. Understanding Cholesterol and Lipids: Your Complete Guide to LDL, HDL, Triglycerides and Lipoprotein(a). Useful as the patient-facing reference for your basic explanation of cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL, HDL, and individualized LDL goals.
  AHA Cholesterol and Lipids Guide