What Causes Hyperlipidemia?

Certain Medical Conditions

When high cholesterol is the result of certain medical conditions, it is known as secondary hyperlipidemia. This acquired form of the condition may differ in its origins but carries with it the same risk to the heart and long-term health. Diseases capable of raising cholesterol levels include hypothyroidism, Cushing's syndrome, kidney disease, alcoholism, and conditions that disrupt the body's endocrine system.

Many of these disorders share a common element in that they trigger a rise in the levels of fat and sugar in the blood. This ultimately contributes to higher concentrations of bad cholesterol and lower levels of good cholesterol. These diseases can also influence weight gain, another contributing factor to hyperlipidemia. There are even some ailments, like anorexia nervosa, that, for reasons currently unknown, raise cholesterol levels, despite having no traditionally contributing factors.