Is high total cholesterol the same as hyperlipidemia?

Elevated total cholesterol may indicate hyperlipidemia.

High total cholesterol falls within the category of high blood lipids; that is, elevated total cholesterol can be considered one manifestation of increased blood lipids, although elevated blood lipids are not entirely equivalent to high total cholesterol.

Blood lipids refer to the collective group of all lipids in the plasma, including total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and others. Total cholesterol is an important component of blood lipids and primarily represents the sum of cholesterol carried by all lipoproteins in the blood. When total cholesterol levels exceed the normal range, it is referred to as elevated total cholesterol.

Since total cholesterol is a type of blood lipid, high total cholesterol indicates hyperlipidemia. Hyperlipidemia can easily lead to hypertension, cerebral infarction, myocardial infarction, and other conditions, thus having certain adverse effects on health. Therefore, treatment should be conducted under a doctor's guidance. It is generally managed through oral medications or dietary adjustments, such as taking atorvastatin and Jiangzhining for treatment.