Good morning Mr. Brown,
I bought you in today to discuss the results of your cholesterol panel. Before I give you the results, I’d like to explain each panel in detail so that you have a clear understanding of each of the results. The first test I’d like to discuss is triglycerides; triglycerides are fats that the body uses for energy. Triglycerides are considered the main form of fat within the body. The body uses triglycerides for energy, which is a good thing. However, when there is an abundance of them, the body will hang on to and store them for use at a later time. Having too much of them can be damaging to the body and lead to serious and long term health issues. High triglycerides are often the result of a lack of physical activity and a poor diet, meaning that reversing these risk factors can have a dramatic impact on keeping the body healthy and thereby reducing the risk of cardiovascular illnesses and stroke. Higher levels can indicate a diet that is high in refined and fatty foods or lack of exercise, and be a means to understand important lifestyle changes that can be made in order to promote better overall health and reduced risk of disease. Your triglyceride levels were 145 mg/dL (values in milligrams per deciliter) since normal triglycerides fall below 150 mg/ DL your levels are normal.
The next test we’re going to discuss is cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and HDL cholesterol. 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 food. Your body makes all the cholesterol it needs. However, cholesterol also is found in in some of the foods you eat. Cholesterol travels through your bloodstream in small packages called lipoproteins. These packages are made of fat on the inside and proteins on the outside.
Two kinds of lipoproteins carry cholesterol throughout your body: low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and high-density lipoproteins (HDL). Having healthy levels of both types of lipoprotein is important. LDL cholesterol sometimes called the “bad” cholesterol. A high LDL level leads to a buildup of cholesterol in your arteries. (Arteries are blood vessels that carry blood from your heart to your body). HDL cholesterol sometimes called “good cholesterol. This is because it carries cholesterol from other body parts of your body back to your liver. Your liver removes the cholesterol from your body.
Your test results show you have borderline high cholesterol. High blood cholesterol is a condition in which you have too much cholesterol in your blood. While your cholesterol level is high your LDL is normal and your HDL levels are normal as well. So now I am going to discuss the causes of high cholesterol, treatments for reducing it as well as the side effects of medication for treating it, and the benefits of lowering it without medication versus lowering it with medication.
Cholesterol levels are affected by what you eat. Eating too much saturated fat and trans fat, and cholesterol can cause high cholesterol. Saturated fat and cholesterol are in foods that come from animals, such as meats, whole milk, eggs yolks, butter, and cheese. Trans fat is found in fried foods, and packaged foods, such as cookies, crackers and chips. Being overweight may increase triglycerides and decrease HDL (good cholesterol). Lack of physical activity can lower your HDL. After you reach age 20 your cholesterol naturally begins to rise. In men, cholesterol generally levels off after age 50.
Now that we have discussed your test results and what causes high blood cholesterol levels. I want to share with you to types of treatment available. The goal of treatment is to reduce your chances of having a heart attack or stroke. The goal is not to lower your cholesterol numbers alone. Lifestyle changes: lifestyle changes are always important, even if you take medicines to
