unit 2 anatomy

SC 121 Human Anatomy & Physiology 1

Cholesterol: A Patient Conversation with Mr. Brown regarding his test results.

Here are the test results where I will explain everything to you after I read the results and answer any of your questions.

Test
Results
Triglycerides
145 mg/dL Desirable
Cholesterol
210 mg/dL Borderline High
HDL
33 mg/dL Low Level
LDL
160 mg/dL High

Triglycerides are fats from the food that we eat that are carried in the blood. Most of the fats that we eat including butter, margarines and oils, are in triglyceride form. High levels can lead to heart attack, stroke and peripheral artery disease.

Cholesterol is a waxy fat-like substance that’s found in all cells of the body. Your body needs some cholesterol to make hormones, vitamin D and substances that help you digest foods. Your body makes all the cholesterol it needs, however it is also found in some of the foods you eat. It travels through your bloodstream in small packages called lipoproteins. These packages are made of fat (lipid) on the inside & proteins on the outside. Two kinds of lipoproteins (LDL) & high density lipoproteins (HDL). Having healthy levels of both types is important.

LDL cholesterol sometimes is called “BAD” . A high LDL level leads to a buildup of cholesterol in our arteries. (Arteries are blood vessels that carry blood from your heart to your body.

HDL cholesterol is called good cholesterol because it carries cholesterol from other parts of your body back to your liver. Your liver removes the cholesterol from your body.

Your liver is the primary organ responsible for the production of cholesterol in your body.

Some causes of high cholesterol are:

Foods that you eat.
May run in your family.
Diabetes
Liver or kidney disease.
Polycystic ovary syndrome.
Pregnancy & other conditions that increase levels of female hormones.
Under active thyroid glands.
Drugs that increase LDL cholesterol & decrease HDL cholesterol.

Treatments for reducing high cholesterol are from lifestyle changes and medications. The main goal of treatment is to lower your LDL cholesterol levels enough to reduce your risk for coronary heart disease, heart attack, and other related health problems.

The common side effects of taking medication for cholesterol are:

Diarrhea or constipation
Abdominal pain, cramps, bloating or gas.
Nausea
Vomiting
Headache
Drowsiness
Dizziness
Muscle aches or weakness

The benefits of taking cholesterol - lowering drugs are far greater than the risks. Statins ( a medicine prescribed for lowering cholesterol) reduces the risks of people suffering heart attacks and strokes by lowering the level of cholesterol produced in the lover and have become the most prescribed drug on the NHS.

There are some different options besides medications that can help reduce cholesterol. Eating a healthy diet, maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly, and not smoking.

I would alleviate any fears that Mr. Brown would have by answering any questions or concerns that he may have.

I would let him know that it would be his decision in which way he would like to approach the situation whether it was with medication or not. I would recommend both options to Mr. Brown explaining how they work and let him decide which approach he would like to take.

Lynne Martin