TRANSCRIPT
Lt Col Reynolds
Dyslipidemia refers to an unhealthy level of lipids in your bloodstream. So then, what are lipids?
Maj West
Good question, Dr. Reynolds. Lipids are fatty substances, like cholesterol and triglycerides, that are found in your blood and your body tissues. They have important functions, such as storing energy and helping to build cell membranes. So, if your body is to be healthy and function properly, you must have these substances.
Lt Col Reynolds
But when these lipids reach unhealthy levels, dyslipidemia occurs, negatively affecting your health. And the most common type of dyslipidemia is hyperlipidemia, which is when your lipid level is too high.
Maj West
One of the major types of lipids is cholesterol, which is a soft, waxy substance that makes up part of the membrane for each cell in your body. Triglycerides are another kind of lipid or fat. A triglyceride is the chemical form for most of the fat in the foods you eat.
Lt Col Reynolds
Your body also converts any extra calories you consume into triglycerides, which are transported to fat cells for storage. These make up most of your body’s fatty tissue.
Maj West
And, these abnormally high levels of fatty substances — in this case, cholesterol or triglycerides — are examples of hyperlipidemia.