Different Paths for Different People

The course of action you take after getting your blood lipids screened will depend on your lipid values and your medical and lifestyle history.

Studies suggest that treatment options for those with unhealthy blood lipid values should differ, depending on a person's coronary heart disease (CHD) risk.

People at relatively low risk of heart disease might be tempted to just watch and wait with borderline unhealthy cholesterol numbers. But updated guidelines established by the National Cholesterol Education Program’s Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP III) suggest more people may benefit from cholesterol-lowering lifestyle changes than previously thought.

Those with a history of CHD, signs of vascular disease, diabetes, or other heart disease risk factors (smoking, high blood pressure, low HDL, etc.) should use more aggressive means to improve unhealthy blood lipid values, such as diet therapy, exercise, and weight control along with medication.

For more information on medication therapies for unhealthy cholesterol blood lipid values, see Cholesterol-Lowering Medications.

The goal blood lipid levels you are encouraged to strive for will be determined by how high your total, LDL, and HDL cholesterol levels and triglycerides are when you begin treatment and what kind of risk factors for developing CHD you bring to the equation.

Those with normal blood lipid values and no risk factors for CHD may simply need to have their blood lipids screened again in another 5 years.