Wednesday, September 2, 2009
diet for high cholesterol
The test for LDL cholesterol is used to predict your risk of developing heart disease. Of all the forms of cholesterol in the blood, the LDL cholesterol is considered the most important form in determining risk of heart disease. Since treatment decisions are often based on LDL values, this test may be used to monitor levels after the start of diet or exercise programs or to determine whether or not prescribing one of the lipid-lowering drugs would be useful.
LDL-C levels are ordered as part a lipid profile, along with total cholesterol, HDL, and triglycerides. This profile may be ordered as a screening profile in a healthy person as part of a routine physical exam. It is recommended that all adults be tested at least once every five years. A fasting lipid profile may be ordered more frequently on those who have one or more major risk factors for heart disease (see below). It may be ordered on someone who has had a high screening cholesterol result to see if the total cholesterol is high because of too much LDL-C.
For children and adolescents at low risk, lipid testing is usually not ordered routinely. However, screening with a lipid profile is recommended for children and youths who are at an increased risk of developing heart disease as adults. Some of the risk factors are similar to those in adults and include a family history of heart disease or health problems such as diabetes, high blood pressure, or being overweight. High-risk children should have their first lipid profile (including HDL-C) between 2 and 10 years old, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Children younger than 2 years old are too young to be tested.
LDL-C levels may also be ordered at regular intervals to evaluate the success of lipid-lowering lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise or to determine the effectiveness of drug therapy such as statins.
LDL-C levels are ordered as part a lipid profile, along with total cholesterol, HDL, and triglycerides. This profile may be ordered as a screening profile in a healthy person as part of a routine physical exam. It is recommended that all adults be tested at least once every five years. A fasting lipid profile may be ordered more frequently on those who have one or more major risk factors for heart disease (see below). It may be ordered on someone who has had a high screening cholesterol result to see if the total cholesterol is high because of too much LDL-C.
For children and adolescents at low risk, lipid testing is usually not ordered routinely. However, screening with a lipid profile is recommended for children and youths who are at an increased risk of developing heart disease as adults. Some of the risk factors are similar to those in adults and include a family history of heart disease or health problems such as diabetes, high blood pressure, or being overweight. High-risk children should have their first lipid profile (including HDL-C) between 2 and 10 years old, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Children younger than 2 years old are too young to be tested.
LDL-C levels may also be ordered at regular intervals to evaluate the success of lipid-lowering lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise or to determine the effectiveness of drug therapy such as statins.
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