Cholesterol: A Patient Conversation Case Study

Good evening Mr. Brown your test results came in and we found out that your Triglycerides are 145 mg/dL, Cholesterol 210 mg/dL, HDL 33 mg/dL, and LDL 160 mg/dL. Normal triglycerides means there are less than 150 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) which you do have which is great. A desirable level of cholesterol would be Below 200 mg/dL, and borderline high would be 200-239 mg/dL so because your cholesterol level is 210 mg/dL you are at borderline high. Ideal LDL level for people at very high risk of heart disease would be below 70 and a high level would be 160-189 mg/dL your LDL level is 160 mg/dL therefore it’s high. The best HDL

An important deficit is that most of the patient’s meals come from a food truck at work or from fast food restaurants. He reports eating no fruits or vegetables. His diet is high in salt, carbohydrates and fat. Moreover, he does not exercise. These lifestyle factors put him at risk for obesity, hypertension and cardiovascular disease (Hardy & Gray,

Martina, your overall cholesterol measurement of 172 mg/dL is below the recommend upper limit of 200 [1]. Additionally, your HDL (high-density lipoprotein)-cholesterol measurement of fifty-six mg/dL is also within the normal limits, which are defined as a reading greater than 40 but less than or equal to 60 mg/dL [1]. Your LDL (low-density lipoprotein)-cholesterol reading is extremely close to being below the recommended limit of 100 mg/dL: your reading was 101 mg/dL [1]. The recommended levels are the values at which your risk for several diseases is minimized. Your triglyceride reading of 78 mg/dL was well within the normal limit of less than 150 mg/dL, but your glucose reading was indicative of prediabetes.

High cholesterol is a dangerous disease that can lead to many life-threatening ailments, and can be lowered by eating healthy, while maintaining a balanced diet of leveled cholesterol. Cholesterol, the sleek-fat like substance that roams in the blood of a body. It is vital to life, but when there is too much intake of cholesterol, it can cause the body to malfunction and cause problems. There are two types of cholesterol HDL and LDL, which varies in the amount of protein and cholesterol it holds Too much cholesterol in a body is dangerous, and surprisingly, has no symptoms. The two main types of cholesterol are HDL and LDL, HDL helps reduce the chances of chronic heart disease, whereas LDL is the main reason for plaque build-up in artery

A routine cholesterol screening involves a simple blood test. An LDL number of 190 mg/dL is considered high, but an HDL level below 40 mg/dL is too low and is a risk for heart disease. The levels of both HDL and LDL are added together for a total cholesterol number. The risk breakdown for the levels are;

HDL, high-density lipoprotein, is sometimes called the ‘good ’cholesterol because “it helps remove LDL cholesterol from the arteries. Experts believe HDL acts as a scavenger, carrying LDL cholesterol away from the arteries and back to the liver, where it is broken down and passed from the body. One- fourth to one-third of blood cholesterol is carried by HDL. A healthy level of HDL cholesterol may also prevent against heart attack or stroke, while low levels of HDL cholesterol have been shown to increase the risk of heart disease” (http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/Cholesterol).

In a study conducted in 1985 observing primates, it was determined that the major effect of dietary cholesterol is its LDL raising effects. High intakes of cholesterol increase the number of circulating LDL’s and it can also change its size and composition. [12] It was during this time period that the mechanisms by which SFA are thought to increase blood cholesterol concentrations came about. One mechanism for the increase in LDL cholesterol levels is the suppression of LDL receptor activity. Studies in tissue cultures have shown that increasing the cholesterol content of a cell will down-regulate synthesis of LDL receptors. [13] This will lead to an increase in concentration of blood cholesterol. Another cause for an increase in blood cholesterol concentration through intake of dietary SFA is the composition of the newly secreted lipoproteins. With a high saturated fat intake, the LDL’s become rich in cholesterol esters, leaving the triglycerides in the blood. [14] The use of non-human primates in

Hi Mr. Brown how are you today? On today`s visit we will be going over your cholesterol panel we receive back all your test results for your cholesterol levels. Your triglycerides levels are at 145 milligrams per deciliter. Your levels are under the normal range of 145 milligrams per deciliter, which is good because your levels are under the high borderline which is between 150 to 199 milligrams per deciliter. This is great that your levels are normal Mr. Brown because Triglycerides are a type of fat known as lipid that’s found in your blood. When you eat food, your body converts any calories it doesn 't need to use right away into triglycerides. The triglycerides are stored in your fat cells. After the hormones are released into triglycerides for energy between meals. If you eat more calories than you burn, then the calories like fats and carbohydrates, can cause you to have a high triglycerides result. So basically, Triglycerides help in the digesting process and breaking down the fats in the food we eat. The results for your cholesterol level are 210 milligrams per deciliter which is borderline high considering, the normal range for cholesterol levels are less than 180 milligrams per deciliter. Since your body has to have cholesterol to make Vitamin D, your hormones, and it also helps with the digestion of the meals you eat. See cholesterol is like a wax, fat like substance that is found in the cells in our bodies.

Use the equation of HDL + LDL + 20% of the Triglyceride level to calculate your total cholesterol level. This number should be less than 180 mg/dL for healthy total cholesterol. Your “bad cholesterol” or low-density-lipoprotein or commonly known as LDL levels should be on the low side. Levels of less than 100 mg/dL are the best levels. 100- 129 mg/mL are close to ideal. Borderline high would be levels of 130-159 mg/mL, high risk levels are 160-189 mg/dL and the worse, highest risk levels would be over 190 mg/dL. (6) The American Heart Association or AHA guidelines snow state that LDL levels are no longer a guideline for preventing heart attacks and no longer need to be taken into account. The level is strictly used to calculate your total cholesterol level. The AHA guidelines also state that people taking statins no longer need to have their LDL levels under a certain level. In “good” Cholesterol or High-density-lipoprotein also known as HDL we look at higher level as being healthier. For Men their healthy levels need to be over 40 mg/dL and

Our body naturally produces cholesterol through the liver, we can also obtain cholesterol from consumed products. We need small amounts of cholesterol to produce hormones, bile, and vitamin D. Cholesterol doesn’t dissolve in the bloodstream once it is inside the body. It needs to be carried by two types of lipoproteins called low density lipoproteins(LDL) and high density lipoproteins(HDL). The more cholesterol we consume, the more LDL and HDL we produce. HDL is

When your doctor talks to you about cholesterol, you might heart certain terms related to your cholesterol levels. Cholesterol is found in animal foods, such as chicken, meat, milk, eggs and cheese. Try to keep your total blood cholesterol under 200 mg/dL. LDL is known as the “bad” cholesterol, as heightened levels can damage your arteries and lead to a heart attack or stroke. Normally, LDL levels should be less than 130 mg/dL. However, a doctor might recommend levels as low as 70 for people with diabetes and/or heart disease.. HDL is referred to as “good cholesterol,” because it helps to keep the arteries open to help reduce the risk of heart disease. You can use an HDL testing kit at home to determine if your level are greater than 50 for men and more than 40 for women. Triglycerides are also a negative element, as they produce LDL and prevent HDL from removing it from your blood. Your triglycerides should be below 200 mg/dL. Talk to your doctor about ways to lower your cholesterol, such as diet, exercise and medication, such as

The liver produces an amount of cholesterol that is necessary for normal body functions. However, an elevated level may cause heart diseases and other maladies. Most experts advise you to keep your cholesterol level below 200, with the low density lipoprotein level below 100. A slightly increased level is not usually a reason to be concerned. If a slightly increased cholesterol level is combined with other negative factors, such as high blood pressure or being overweight, the impact it has on your health is greater. A

There are many risk factors which facilitate the development of atherosclerosis; abnormal blood lipids are just one of them. Blood lipids consisted of three components including cholesterol, triglycerides, and two major forms of lipoproteins: high density lipoproteins (HDLs) and Low density lipoproteins (LDLs). One of the critical components which determine the degree of blockage on the arterial walls is the quantity of cholesterol

According to the lipid panel, M.K. is also at risk for heart disease or stroke. Her total cholesterol is 242mg/dL which is high and increases her risk for heart disease. A normal range for cholesterol is below 200mg/dL. A level of 201 to 240 mg/dL is borderline, and a level of more than 240 mg/dL is high. Her HDL is 32mg/dL which is really bad. You want this to be as high as possible any level that is 60 mg/dL or higher is good or normal, levels of 40 to 59 mg/dL is borderline and levels of less than 40 mg/dL is low and bad, it increases your chances of heart disease.

Obesity is a medical condition in which excess fat is accumulated by the body, to the extent that it may have a negative impact on health (Haslam and James, 2005). The patient in the scenario clearly understands this aspect of obesity, as he mentions that he is ‘worried’ about gaining weight.