_______________________________________ Hyperlipidemias and Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease
Effective lipid management slows the progression of atherosclerosis and lowers morbidity and mortality associated with ASCVD. This requires not only a change in general perceptions but also a multidisciplinary approach to prevention that involves all members of the healthcare team, including physicians, nurses, pharmacists, dietitians, counselors, and physiotherapists. The evidence-based guidelines for the assessment of cardiovascular risk, treatment goals, lifestyle changes, and pharmacotherapy developed by the AHA/ACC should be followed as the gold standard in clinical practice [24; 95; 115; 120; 227]. The primary target in the treatment of hyperlipidemias is to lower LDL; the secondary targets are treating high triglycerides, low HDL, and metabolic syndrome. A variety of lipid-lowering drugs with a favorable risk-benefit profile, in conjunction with implementation of lifestyle changes, is available to meet these goals. A better understanding of the molecular elements and physiology of the exogenous and endogenous lipid pathways has played a fundamental role in the development of the most potent lipid-lowering drugs. Scientific advances have led to the development of a newer generation of drugs, now undergoing several stages of clinical evaluation, with the potential to improve on existing drugs’ risk-benefit profiles. The important role played by the implementation of lifestyle changes, including a balanced diet, in achieving a healthy lipid profile and decreasing the incidence of ASCVD cannot be overstated and should be an integral part of disease management.
RESOURCES The following resources are provided for those clinicians in need of additional information or as patient education sources. American Heart Association (AHA) https://www.heart.org Professional Heart Daily (A service provided by the AHA) https://professional.heart.org My Life Check: Life’s Essential 8 https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-lifestyle/ lifes-essential-8 Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada https://www.heartandstroke.ca Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Cholesterol Homepage https://www.cdc.gov/cholesterol National Center for Health Statistics https://www.cdc.gov/nchs National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov
WORKS CITED https://qr2.mobi/hyperlipidemia
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