The National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) offers cholesterol guidelines for men and women.
In 2004, NCEP updated its guidelines, particularly for high risk people. “Very high risk” refers to people who have had a recent heart attack or who have known vascular disease plus other serious risk factors (eg, diabetes , smoking , metabolic syndrome ). The update:
High levels of LDL cholesterol and/or low levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL, or “good”) cholesterol, are major risk factors for heart attack and stroke, two of the most common causes of death in the US.
The good news is that most people can control major heart disease risk factors, including cholesterol levels, smoking, excessive weight, lack of exercise, high blood pressure , and type 2 diabetes .
Screening for lipid disorders like high cholesterol depends on your age and whether you have any risk factors for heart disease. In general, if you are a healthy adult aged 20 or older, your doctor may recommend that you have a screening test every five years. The test results for total cholesterol are:
If your total cholesterol level is over 240 mg/dL (6.2 mmol/L), you have a higher risk of heart disease compared to someone whose cholesterol is below 200 mg/dL (5.2 mmol/L).
The guidelines propose different recommendations depending on a person’s degree of risk of heart attack within the next ten years. This risk is determined by the presence of several risk factors, including history of heart attack or stroke, unstable or stable angina (chest pain), history of coronary artery procedures, evidence of clogged arteries (myocardial ischemia), diabetes, metabolic syndrome, high LDL cholesterol, low HDL cholesterol, high blood pressure, smoking, family history of heart disease, and age.
There are three major risk levels:
The guidelines do not change cholesterol management recommendations for those at lower risk of heart attack, only for those at moderately high and high risk. NCEP's updates include:
Risk Category | Drug Therapy Based on LDL levels |
---|---|
High risk and very high risk |
|
Moderately high risk |
|
Lower risk |
|
The guidelines also now state that drug treatment for high-risk patients must be aggressive enough to achieve at least a 30% to 40% reduction in LDL levels. In addition to drug therapy, NCEP also stresses the importance of initiating therapeutic lifestyle changes in high-risk persons—regardless of cholesterol level—since lifestyle changes can reduce cardiovascular risk in several ways besides lowering cholesterol.
NCEP recommends the following lifestyle changes:
Diet and exercise remain the first-line treatment option for high cholesterol in those at low to moderate risk for heart disease. And, most certainly, they are measures of prevention that everyone should heed. NCEP's guidelines recommend aggressive drug treatment only for those at high risk for an adverse coronary event.
If you are concerned about your cholesterol levels and your risk for heart disease, talk to your doctor. There are steps that you can take to reduce the risk.
Statins are often prescribed for high cholesterol. They are designed to be used in combination with lifestyle therapy. Statins works by blocking an enzyme (HMG-CoA reductase) that helps the body make cholesterol. The benefit from these medicines may also come from their anti-inflammation properties. Common examples of statins include:
Statin drugs have proven to be effective in reducing cholesterol levels. These medicines may also reduce the incidence of heart attack, stroke, and death.
RESOURCES:
American Heart Association
http://www.americanheart.org
National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov
CANADIAN RESOURCES:
Health Canada
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/index_e.html/
Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada
http://ww2.heartandstroke.ca/
References:
American Heart Association. Available at: http://www.americanheart.org .
DynaMed editorial team. Cholesterol screening and management for cardiovascular disease prevention. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed/what.php. Updated July 2, 2010. Accessed July 19, 2010.
Grundy SM, Cleeman JI, Bairey Merz CN, Brewer HB, Clark LT, Hunninghake DB, Pasternak RC, et al. Implications of recent clinical trials for the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III guidelines. Circulation . 2004; 110:227–239
Healy B. Meet the cholesterol busters. US News & World Report . March 22, 2004. Available at: http://www.keepmedia.com/ShowItemDetails.do?item_id=395621&oliID=255&bemID=l/sjnYFhOG3jl2DVcd+7gQaa2208 . Accessed September 13, 2004.
Henkel J. Keeping cholesterol under control. FDA Consumer Magazine . Available at: http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/1999/199_chol.html . Accessed on September 13, 2004.
Howard BV, Van Horn L, Hsia J, Manson JE, Stefanick ML, Wassertheil-Smoller S, et al. Low-fat dietary pattern and risk of cardiovascular disease: the Women's Health Initiative Randomized Controlled Dietary Modification Trial. JAMA . 2006;295(6):655-66.
National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. Available at: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov .
Nissen SE, Nicholls SJ, Sipahi I, Libby P, Raichlen JS, Ballantyne CM, et al. [ASTEROID Investigators]. Effect of very high-intensity statin therapy on regression of coronary atherosclerosis: the ASTEROID trial. JAMA . 2006;295(13):1556-65.
Noonan, D. You want statins with that? Newsweek. July 28, 2003.
Squires, S. Need to Know: The Baycoll recall: how safe is your statin? The Washington Post. August 14, 2001, p.HE03.
Third report of the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) expert panel on detection, evaluation, and treatment of high blood cholesterol in adults. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Available at http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/cholesterol/atp3full.pdf . Accessed on July 19, 2010.
US Preventive Services Task Force. Screening for lipid disorders in adults: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendation statement. National Guidelines Clearinghouse website. Available at: http://www.guideline.gov/summary/summary.aspx?doc_id=12634#s23. Published June 2008. Accessed July 19, 2010.
Wood D. Medications for lipid disorders. EBSCO Health Library website. Available at: http://www.ebscohost.com/thisTopic.php?marketID=15topicID=81. Updated February 8, 2010. Accessed July 19, 2010.
Last reviewed July 2010 by Brian Randall, MD
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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