CHOLESTEROL MANAGEMENT
This document aims to answer the following questions.
Are You at Risk for Heart Disease?
Cardiovascular disease and its complications are the #1 killer
of Americans today. The alarming part is that many of those deaths
could be prevented.
- Cardiovascular disease is the leading cuase of death in both
men and women in the U.S. It causes more deaths than the next
7 leading causes of death combined.
- Approximately 12 million Americans have advanced cardiovascular
disease.
- 1.1 million heart attacks occur per year in the U.S. and almost ½ of
these patients do not survive.
- Elevated cholesterol (aka lipids) levels are a major risk factor
for advanced cardiovascular disease.
- Abnormal lipid levels have been associated with increased risk
of cardiovascular disease in scientific studies.
- Heart disease risk has a direct correlation to LDL (“bad”)
cholesterol: the higher the LDL level, the higher the risk.
- Patients with abnormal lipid levels are 12 times more likely
to die from heart disease than patients with desirable lipid
levels.
A large number of Americans with abnormal lipids are not being
properly treated.
- Approximately 4 million Americans with heart disease are candidates
for cholesterol-lowering therapy.
- Only one out of four patients with advanced cardiovascular
disease and high cholesterol are being treated properly.
One out of twenty patients on cholesterol lowering medications
are adequately controlled.
What do my numbers mean?
Note: NIH Guidelines specify these values after a 9 to 12
hour fast
Total Cholesterol
| < 200mg/dL |
desirable |
| 200 – 239mg/dL |
borderline high |
| = 240mg/dL |
high |
HDL ("good") cholesterol
| = 35mg/dL |
desirable |
| < 35mg/dL |
undesirable |
LDL (“bad”) cholesterol
| < 160mg/dL |
if < 2 risk factors |
| < 130mg/dL |
if = 2 risk factors |
| < 100mg/dL |
if history of heart disease |
Triglycerides
| < 200mg/dL |
desirable |
| 200 – 400mg/dL |
borderline high |
| 400 – 1000mg/dL |
high |
| > 1000mg/dL |
very high |
What are the Risk Factors for Heart Disease?
- Blood pressure greater than 140/90 and/or taking high blood
pressure medication.
- Currently smoke cigarettes
- High LDL (“bad”) cholesterol
- Low HDL (“good”) cholesterol
- Age
- Male over 45 years of age
- Female over 55 years of age
- Family history of heart disease
- Diabetes mellitus
Treatment is Needed if ...
- Total cholesterol is equal to or greater than 240mg/dL
- Total cholesterol is between 200 and 239mg/dL with two or more
risk factors for heart disease.
- HDL (“good”) cholesterol is less than 35mg/dL
- Established, current heart disease or other atherosclerotic
disease.
Important Questions to Ask About Your Cholesterol
- What is my total cholesterol level?
- What are my risk factors for heart disease?
- What are my target cholesterol goals?
- How can I reach these goals?
- What are the benefits of reaching my targeted cholesterol goals?
- What medications are available to lower my cholesterol?
How the Iverson Corner Drug Lipid Management Clinic Will Help
You
Each session of the program will entitle you to exclusive pharmacist-patient
time where all of your questions and concerns can be addressed
with our clinical pharmacist who is trained in cholesterol management.
You will receive a full lipid panel analyzed on the Cholestech® L-D-X,
liver function tests, and a risk assessment based on the newest
medical standards of care from the National Heart Lung and Blood
Institute of the National Institute of Health. Note: both the full
lipid panel and the liver function test require a small amount
of blood from your finger.
In addition to this, our clinical pharmacist has developed a patient
care book that summarizes dietary, medication, and lifestyle management
to optimize your cholesterol lowering therapy.
What are Liver Function Tests?
Certain medications used to treat high cholesterol can hurt the
liver. To prevent permanent damage to the liver, we monitor the
AST and ALT (liver function tests).
Benefits of Cholesterol Control
- Less risk of heart attack and/or heart disease
- Long term reduction of medical expenses
- Extended lifespan
- Better health and increased quality of life
More information on Cholesterol Screening, cholesterol
medications, and non-medication options is available from one of
our highly qualified pharmacists. Call or stop by today to make
an appointment, or just get a question answered!
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