Doctors use the term lipid disorder for high blood cholesterol and triglycerides. This disorder happens when you have increased levels of fatty substances in your blood. The fatty substances in your blood are cholesterol and triglycerides.

Lipid disorders put you at increased risk for heart problems and atherosclerosis.

It is not unusual for high cholesterol to be hereditary. High cholesterol is also associated with:

1/ Fatty foods

2/ Diseases including diabetes, hypothyroidism and kidney problems

3/ Some medications such as birth control pills, beta blockers, corticosteroids, estrogen, diuretics and beta blockers

4/ Various lifestyle factors such as a lack of activity and alcohol abuse

When you combine smoking with high cholesterol you put yourself at greater risk for heart disease.

Lipid disorders are usually more common in men than women.

Some tests that are used by doctors to diagnose lipid disorders include:

a- A Lipoprotein Test

b- The Lipoproteina Analysis

c- An HDL Test

c- A test for LDL

The treatment that you receive depends on your age, your back round and whether or not you smoke. There are other risk factors that include:

* Diabetes

* An existing high blood pressure condition

* If you have a family history of heart disease

Of course there are steps that you can take to reduce your cholesterol levels. In turn, this can help to prevent heart problems and even the risk of a heart attack. Here are some of the things that you can do:

1- A diet that is low in saturated fat. This includes whole grains, beans, vegetables and fruit.

2- A regular exercise routine.

3- Obviously, if you are overweight, lose it.

4- Quit smoking.

5- Drink less alcohol.

6- See your doctor for regular cholesterol screenings.

If lifestyle changes alone do not significantly reduce your cholesterol, your doctor will very likely recommend medication.

The most commonly prescribed medicine for high cholesterol are statins. The drugs are very successful in reducing high cholesterol levels in a relatively short period of time (about two months). The down side if that they can present with some very harmful side effects.

A different approach is to use herbal supplements. There are herbs used to lower cholesterol that are both mild and effective. They may take longer to work, sometimes up to six months. They do not cause; however, harmful side effects.

You will have to continue with an improved diet and treatment for the rest of your life. The progression of atherosclerosis will slow with the reduction of your cholesterol. With the right dietary changes this process can be reversed.

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