If you have these 4 symptoms after getting up in the morning, your blood lipids may be high! It is especially dangerous after the age of 40!

According to the data of "China Blood Lipid Management Guidelines (2023)", the overall prevalence of dyslipidemia in adults in China is as high as 35.6% . What symptoms may indicate dyslipidemia? What will happen if blood lipids cannot be lowered? How can blood lipids be stabilized? Let's take you to understand~

There are these 4 symptoms after waking up in the morning

Your blood lipids may be high

1

Fatigue and drowsiness

After a night's sleep, you should feel energetic and refreshed when you get up in the morning. However, people with high blood lipids will have increased blood viscosity and poor blood circulation, so they will still feel sleepy, weak, and unclear after getting up in the morning. This situation can usually be improved after breakfast.

2

Dizziness and headache

High blood lipids can also affect blood circulation in the brain, causing dizziness and headaches after getting up in the morning.

3

Chest tightness and shortness of breath

For people with high blood lipids, too much lipid deposition on the blood vessel walls affects blood flow and may cause myocardial ischemia and hypoxia, resulting in chest tightness and shortness of breath. And after getting up, the heart's demand for oxygen increases, and the symptoms of chest tightness and shortness of breath may worsen.

4

Numbness in hands and feet

People with high blood lipids are prone to numbness and heaviness in their hands and feet due to insufficient blood supply.

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In addition to the above-mentioned symptoms after waking up in the morning, when blood lipids are abnormal, the body may also experience the following abnormalities.

1

Eye abnormalities

Such as sudden blurred vision, opaque white rings around the cornea, or the appearance of xanthelasma.

2

Yellow nodules on the body

Yellow, orange or brownish-red nodules, plaques or rashes appear on the backs of hands, knuckles, elbows, knees, buttocks, etc., or yellow or orange stripes appear on the palms.

3

Calf cramps

If you often experience cramps and tingling in your legs and feet, and there is no improvement after taking calcium supplements and rest, you should be alert to high blood lipids.

According to the four indicators, dyslipidemia can be divided into

● Hypercholesterolemia (TC ≥ 5.2mmol/L);

● Hypertriglyceridemia (TG ≥ 1.7mmol/L);

●High low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C ≥ 3.4mmol/L);

●Low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C <1.0mmol/L).

If one or more of these four indicators are abnormal, it is considered dyslipidemia.

What will happen if blood lipids cannot be lowered?

1

Thrombosis

If blood lipids cannot be lowered, blood viscosity will increase, making it easier to form plaques. When plaques fall off, blood clots will gradually form. Wherever blood clots form, it will bring a heavy "blow" to that place, and even be life-threatening.

2

Causes kidney disease

If blood lipids cannot be lowered, the glomeruli cannot get sufficient blood supply, which will increase the burden on the kidneys. Over time, it may cause more serious kidney disease.

3

Aggravate complications of diabetes

When blood lipids rise, patients with diabetes will be more likely to develop complications.

Doing this will help you stabilize your blood lipids

1

Quit smoking and avoid secondhand smoke

Quitting smoking completely and avoiding secondhand smoke can help prevent atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and increase the level of "good cholesterol."

2

Reduce or quit drinking

Long-term excessive drinking will affect fat metabolism and easily increase blood lipids. It is best not to drink. If you drink, you should consume less than 100 grams of alcohol per week.

3

Exercise at least 3 times a week

It is best to do more than 150 to 300 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise per week, such as jogging, brisk walking, cycling, etc. You can also add resistance exercise, such as weightlifting, dumbbells, etc.

Notice:

People with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease should exercise as directed by their doctor.

4

Limit intake of saturated fatty acids and trans fats

The total fat intake should be controlled at 20-25 grams per person per day.

Use unsaturated fatty acids such as vegetable oils instead of saturated fatty acids such as animal oil and palm oil.

Avoid trans fat intake, such as chocolate with cocoa butter substitutes, various cakes with non-natural cream, and foods that have been repeatedly fried.

5

Limit dietary cholesterol intake to 300 mg per day

For people at high risk of blood lipids and patients with hypercholesterolemia, special emphasis should be placed on reducing dietary cholesterol intake, eating less high-cholesterol foods such as animal offal, seafood (especially crabs), etc., and strive to control daily dietary cholesterol intake to less than 300 mg.

6

Eat more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains

Increasing the intake of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, potatoes, dietary fiber and fish will be more helpful in controlling blood lipids.

7

Get a good night's sleep

Staying up late for a long time will lead to lack of sleep and endocrine abnormalities, which will induce a series of problems such as lipid metabolism disorders. It is recommended to go to bed before 23:00 every day.

8

Learn to reduce stress

When you are under a lot of stress, it is more likely that your "bad cholesterol" will increase and your "good cholesterol" will decrease.

9

Keep your weight under control

Maintaining a healthy weight is beneficial to blood lipid control. It is recommended that waist circumference be controlled at ≤85 cm for men and ≤80 cm for women.

10

Take medication as directed by your doctor

If blood lipids cannot be improved by changing your lifestyle, you can use statins as prescribed by your doctor, or use a combination of medications to control blood lipids.

Who should pay special attention to blood lipids?

● Those with a history of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease;

● People with high risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and smoking;

● Those with a family history of premature cardiovascular disease;

● Patients with familial hyperlipidemia;

● Skin or tendon xanthomas, and thickening of the Achilles tendon.

How often should blood lipids be tested?

● For people over 40 years old, blood lipids should be tested every 2 to 5 years;

● Patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and high-risk groups should have their blood lipids measured every 3 to 6 months;

● Patients hospitalized for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease should have their blood lipids tested upon admission or within 24 hours.

Health Tips

1. If you have these 4 symptoms after getting up in the morning, beware of high blood lipids:

Fatigue, dizziness, headache, chest tightness, shortness of breath, numbness in hands and feet.

2. What other signs of dyslipidemia are there?

Eye abnormalities, yellow nodules on the body, calf cramps.

3. Do this to help you stabilize your blood lipids:

Quit smoking and drinking, avoid secondhand smoke, exercise at least 3 times a week, eat a healthy diet, control your weight, get good sleep, learn to relieve stress, and take medication as directed by your doctor.

Planning and production

Source: CCTV Life Circle

Reviewer: Tang Qin, Director and Researcher of the Science Popularization Department of the Chinese Medical Association

Editor: Yang Yaping

Proofread by Xu Lai and Lin Lin