Talk to Your
Doctor--Be Part of Your Health Care Team
There are two
key people in your health care team, you and your doctor. You are just as
important as your doctor in directing your health care. Only you know how you
feel, what you are doing or not doing to improve your health, what you expect
from your health, and any difficulties you may be having. It is important for
you to tell your doctor these things so he or she can recommend the best
treatment.
The first
step you should take in becoming an active member of your health care team is
to understand what you are being treated for and why. Continue to ask questions
until you understand the answer.
It is
important for you to understand your coronary heart disease, your risk factors
for heart disease, the special diet you are on, medicines you may be taking,
and the tests needed to follow your progress. Ask about the benefits of
medications as well as possible side effects. If you are aware of possible side
effects of a treatment, you will be able to manage them better.
See How to Stay on Your Cholesterol Lowering
Medicine.
By paying
attention to your health and maintaining your own records, you will become an
active decision maker in your health care. See
cholesterol-monitoring log.
Talk to Your
Doctor--Be Part of Your Health Care Team
In addition
to your doctor, other health professionals can help you control your blood
cholesterol levels. These persons include:
- Registered
nurses (RNs) can explain your treatment plan to you, show you how to take your
medication, and help you find other sources of information and help. As the
health care provider you see the most, nurses are a key resource when you are
lowering your cholesterol.
- Registered
dietitians (RDs) or qualified nutritionists can explain food plans, show you
how to make changes in what you eat, and give you advice on shopping for and
preparing foods and eating out. They also can help you set goals for changing
the way you eat, so you can successfully lower your high blood cholesterol
without making big changes all at once in your eating habits or in your
lifestyle. Call the National Center for Nutrition and Dietetics of the American
Dietetic Association at 1-800-366-1655 for a
referral to a registered dietitian
(RD) near you.
- Lipid
specialists are doctors who are experts in treating high blood cholesterol and
similar conditions. You may be referred to a lipid specialist if the treatment
your doctor is prescribing does not successfully lower your blood cholesterol
levels.
- Pharmacists
are aware of the best ways to take medicines to lessen side effects and of the
latest research on drugs. They can help you stay on your drug treatment
program.
Many people
need help while making changes in life habits to reduce their risk; do not be
afraid to ask for help from family, friends, and your health care team. Involve
your spouse, family members, or significant others in your treatment plan. By
sharing your problem and the importance of cholesterol-lowering goals (LDL less
than 100 mg/dL), your current treatment plan, and your medication schedule, you
can get the help you need to succeed in controlling your cholesterol and
lowering your risk.
Long-Term
Monitoring
Because you
have heart disease or are at high risk for developing it you will need to
monitor your cholesterol and other risk factors for the rest of your life. By
discussing your monitoring plan with your health care provider, both you and
your physician will be more likely to stick to this plan. Several helpful hints
are provided in the box below to help you avoid relapsing to a less healthy
lifestyle. If you have a specific problem that is not listed here, discuss it
with your doctor, nurse, or dietitian.
Helpful Hints
To Monitor Your New Lifestyle
- Record your
test results at each visit.
- Set realistic
short-term goals and write them down.
- Review your
goals during each visit with your health care provider.
- Share your
goals with your family and friends. Support is often the key to
success.
- If you find
yourself unable to keep to your plan, write down all of the reasons that you
think are responsible. Next, write down what alternatives you have if that
situation happens again. If you prepare an alternate strategy in advance, you
are more likely to stick to your plan and reach your goals.
When setting
your goals with your health care provider, remember the target cholesterol
level for persons with heart disease and those at high risk for developing it:
LDL-cholesterol:
less than 100 mg/dL
In addition,
since a high triglyceride level or a low HDL-cholesterol level is linked to an
increased risk of heart disease, patients with heart disease or those at high
risk of developing it who have a high triglyceride and/or an HDL level less
than 40 mg/dL after the LDL goal is reached may need further
treatment.
Maintaining
Healthy Behaviors and Overcoming Relapse
The goal of
diet, physical activity, weight loss, and medicine is to keep your blood
cholesterol under control. If you go off your treatment, your blood cholesterol
will go up again--and so will your risk for heart attack. You need to continue
your cholesterol-lowering therapy for life.
Many people
find lifelong changes in diet and activity difficult to manage. It is important
to remember that because you may not always stick with your new diet or
exercise plan, you are not a failure--just human. The most important part of
your new healthy lifestyle is learning how to overcome these challenges and
quickly return to your goal.
Cholesterol-Monitoring
Log
Date:
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Medication Name:
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Dose:
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LDL-Cholesterol:
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Total
Cholesterol:
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HDL-Cholesterol:
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Triglycerides:
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