Hyperlipidemia or dyslipidemia means having a high level of lipids in the blood (excess fat), including bad cholesterol (LDL cholesterol) and triglycerides. These different conditions do not usually cause symptoms, if we exclude genetic types of dyslipidemia. However, hypercholesterolemia is one of the most significant of the many risk factors which, added together, can lead to a stroke, heart attack and poor kidney function.