Even if your cholesterol is under control, you may still be at risk for coronary artery disease.

Approximately 50 percent of the United States population has lipid levels in the moderate to high risk range. Only half of the people with coronary artery disease have cholesterol levels considered at risk. For the other 50 percent, other risks are present.

Lifestyle choices are a leading preventable cause of cardiovascular disease. Sustained lifestyle changes are promoted by education, skills training and behavior change support provided by the Lipid Clinic.

Services

• Personal and family history review with screening for lipid abnormalities and disease that contributes to such abnormalities
• Assessment of current lifestyle practices with personalized plan to reduce cardiovascular risk
  • Evaluation of readiness for change
  • Support with prioritized lifestyle plan
  • Instructions on your risk factors and treatment options to include diet, exercise, and stress reduction
• Pharmacological treatment of dyslipidemias
• Ambulatory 24-hour blood pressure monitoring
• Frequent progress reports to your physician

What should your cholesterol level be?

If you have cardiovascular disease, lowering your cholesterol is still the most effective means to decrease your risk of heart attack, stroke and sudden death. If your LDL (bad cholesterol) is at target, you can reduce your chance of death by 30-40 percent over the next five years. Current science recommends the following levels:

• LDL cholesterol should be less than 100mg/dl or less than 70 if you have coronary artery disease or diabetes
• Triglycerides should be under 150mg/dl
• HDL cholesterol (healthy cholesterol) should be over 40mg/dl

What are major risk factors beyond elevated LDL cholesterol?

National Cholesterol Education Program Major Risk Factors

• Cigarette smoking
• Hypertension (blood pressure >/= 140 or on medication)
• Low HDL (< 40mg/dl) [>60mg/dl subtracts a risk factor]
• Family history of early CHD (male > 55 and female > 65 years old)
• Age 55 years or older

How you enroll

Call the New Directions Wellness Clinics at 574-389-2750 Monday through Thursday between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. and ask for details on enrollment or ask your physician to refer you to the Clinic.

Medical Director

Wai Hung Lee, MD, FACC, FACP

Coordinator

Liz Winet, APRN, FNP-C, MSN, MBA

For More Information

New Directions Wellness Clinics
600 East Boulevard
Elkhart, IN 46514
574-389-4860