Basically, a healthy lifestyle helps to regulate the fat metabolism (but also the sugar metabolism and body weight). Even with a familial predisposition (e.g. familial hypercholesterolaemia), the risk can be greatly improved or even normalized through individualized drug and non-drug measures.
If non-medicinal measures are not sufficient, various medications are available to lower blood lipids. In our special consultation, an ideal therapy is formulated, explained and prescribed after a medical examination, an assessment and evaluation of other cardiovascular risk factors and a calculation of the risk. As a rule, this involves a combination of medication (so-called lipid-lowering drugs) with various non-drug measures.
Fat metabolism disorder: what you can do
The measures focus on health-promoting measures such as
- Avoid further weight gain if you are overweight/obese. Implement measures to reduce weight.
- Reduction and cessation of nicotine consumption
- Control of alcohol consumption
- Regular physical exercise and other measures
Diet and overall lifestyle play an important role in lipid metabolism disorders. The focus of the measures should be on a balanced diet, weight control and a high level of physical activity. The recommendations for nutritional measures should ideally be based on the individual situation, i.e. depending on your risk profile and calculated risk. In our special consultation hour, we work with you and specialists to determine the ideal therapy for you and monitor and optimize it over time.
Lipid metabolism disorder: what we can do at the USZ
If the metabolism cannot be regulated by a change in lifestyle alone, we will prescribe appropriate medication, so-called lipid-lowering drugs. A combination of medication and diet can greatly reduce the cholesterol content of the blood, completely normalize it or even reduce it to a very low level, which is associated with a minimal risk of e.g. further progression of atherosclerosis. Various drugs are available (e.g. statins), which are prescribed according to individual risk.