We know that our body ingests and produces two types of lipids: cholesterol and triglycerides. When levels of any of these blood fats we are looking at a picture of hyperlipidemia. This means that the altered levels of cholesterol or triglycerides in the blood is hyperlipidemia.

This picture may be inherited or occur as a result of an unbalanced diet rich in fats.

The types of hyperlipidaemia are:

Hypercholesterolaemia: Increased low density lipoprotein (LDL), what we call bad cholesterol. Bad cholesterol unlike the good (HDL, LDL) in the body travels in the opposite direction from the liver to other tissues. When there is excess cholesterol in the blood is deposited in the arteries and that’s when we have the risk of heart disease by clogging.

Hypertriglyceridemia: the increase of triglycerides in the blood. Most of this accumulation of excess fat in the liver is deteriorating and its functions. Most people with hypertriglyceridemia or advanced diabetes are overweight.

The medical treatment of hyperlipidaemia should be accompanied by a low-calorie meal plan, with foods rich in soluble fiber-type plant that will help reduce the level of blood lipids.

In Nutrition we’ve seen what food choices that help reduce bad cholesterol and triglycerides, as well as foods that are banned for these diseases. Remember to serve with a low consumption of sweets, sugars and soft drinks, which may also be present trans fats.

More than 200 experts in hypertension have gathered in Seville to celebrate Hypertension Annual Meeting organized by the Spanish Society of Cardiology (ESC). At the meeting were released the results of several studies related to the treatment of hypertension (HTA) conducted in primary care and cardiology services, an example of these is the TABARCA study that analyzes the influence of snuff in cardiovascular complications in patients admitted to hospital for an acute coronary syndrome.

Another central thrust of the meeting has been prevention in patients at high risk if, as says Dr. Pilar Mazon, president of the Hypertension Section of the SEC, “we must move towards a more vigorous intervention, both pharmacological as reinforcing the changes in lifestyle, with special emphasis on the abandonment of snuff, including smoking cessation drugs. It should consider the cardiovascular risk in a comprehensive manner, taking into account renal function and extracardiac vascular level.

Along with diabetes, hypertension is a major cardiovascular risk factors, the most prevalent and which is attributed to higher mortality directly associated with increased ischemic heart disease, cerebrovascular disease and renal failure.

The future of hypertension is not encouraging. For the year 2025 is expected to increase 24 percent in the prevalence of the disease in developed countries. In fact, after 65 years, more than 2 / 3 of the Spanish population is affected by the disease. Still, there is increasing information about the problem, “most people care to know their blood pressure numbers and a higher percentage of hypertensive patients undergoing treatment and are well controlled.”