High Blood Cholesterol: What You Need to Know

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Description

This fact sheet explains the risks of having a high blood cholesterol level and provides guidance on lowering high blood cholesterol.

This tool addresses the following topics:

Why is cholesterol important?
How does cholesterol cause heart disease?
What do your cholesterol numbers mean?
What affects cholesterol levels?
What is your risk of developing heart disease or having a heart attack?
Treating high cholesterol
Lowering cholesterol with therapeutic lifestyle changes
Drug treatment
Resources

Links to the Tool:

This tool is available at: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/chol/wyntk.htm
The PDF version of this tool is available at: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/chol/wyntk.pdf (If you don't have the software to open this PDF, download free Adobe Acrobat Reader® software.)

Developer

National Cholesterol Education Program; National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (U.S.)

Funding Sources

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (U.S.); National Institutes of Health

QualityTool Topic

Disease/Condition-Related; Prevention and Wellness

Related Resources

Aim for a healthy weight: information for patients and the public. [internet]. Bethesda (MD): National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; [accessed 2005 May 02]. Available at: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/obesity/lose_wt/index.htm
Healthfinder: your guide to reliable health information. [Web site]. Washington (DC): Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; 1997 [accessed 2004 Jun 04]. Available at: http://www.healthfinder.gov/
Live healthier – live longer. Information on the ATP III update. [Web site]. Bethesda (MD): National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute launched the National Cholesterol Education Program; [accessed 2005 May 02]. Available at: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/chd/index.htm
Your guide to lowering high blood pressure. [Web site]. Bethesda (MD): National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; [accessed 2005 May 02]. Available at: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/hbp/index.html

Links to National Guideline Clearinghouse or National Quality Measures Clearinghouse:

This tool is derived from the following guideline in the National Guideline Clearinghouse (NGC): (1) Third report of the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults (Adult Treatment Panel III). (2) Implications of recent clinical trials for the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III Guidelines:
http://www.guideline.gov/summary/summary.aspx?ss=15&doc_id=5503&string=

History

Release Date: 05/2001
Review Date: 06/2005
Recent Summary: 04/2006
Original Summary: 09/2004

Disclaimer: The inclusion of a tool in the Innovations Exchange does not constitute or imply an endorsement by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality or Westat of the tool or of the submitter or developer of the tool. Read more.

QualityTool Classification

Disease/Clinical Category:		Hypercholesterolemia; Lipid reduction
Stage of Care:		Chronic care
Patient Care Process:		Preventive Care Processes > Screening; Primary prevention; Active Care Processes: Diagnosis and Treatment > Assessment; Chronic-disease management; Laboratory tests; Medication: ordering, transcription, administration, dispensing; Patient-Focused Processes/Psychosocial Care > Improving patient self-management; Patient education
IOM Domains of Quality:		Effectiveness; Patient-centeredness
QualityTool Format:		Fact sheet
QualityTool Topic:		Disease/Condition-Related; Prevention and Wellness
Developer:		National Cholesterol Education Program; National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (U.S.)
Funding Sources:		National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (U.S.); National Institutes of Health

Last updated: July 28, 2009.