What Is Lipid Management?
Lipid management is a program designed to care for patients with high cholesterol, high triglyceride or low high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels. Any of these three conditions can lead to heart disease and other health concerns, so patients who aren’t able to manage their conditions need help from the experts in lipid management at UK Gill Heart & Vascular Institute.
High cholesterol often does not have any symptoms. You may not realize you have high cholesterol and need lipid management, or you may not have known until your provider recommended it to you. This is why regular cholesterol screenings are important for everyone age 20 and older.
Before Lipid Management
A cholesterol screening is done with a blood test. You will not be allowed to eat or drink anything for 12 hours before the cholesterol screening, but you may take any regular medications.
During Lipid Management
During your cholesterol screening, a provider will take a sample of blood from your arm. The sample will be sent to a laboratory and technicians will read the levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and HDL cholesterol in your blood, as well as your triglyceride levels.
After Lipid Management
If your cholesterol and triglyceride levels need to be improved, your provider may discuss lifestyle changes you can make. These may include:
- Eating a heart-healthy diet, which includes whole grains, fruits, vegetables and healthy fats
- Losing weight if you are overweight or obese
- Regular physical activity to lower your LDL and raise your HDL cholesterol levels
- Smoking cessation if you currently smoke
If your lipid levels do not improve after three months, or if you have a heart condition or elevated blood lipid levels due to your genetics, your provider may also recommend medication in addition to a healthy lifestyle. These may also include omega fatty acids or fish oils, niacin or vitamin B5, bile acid sequestrants, fibrates, or statins.
