New Cholesterol Guidelines

Guidelines for managing cholesterol got broader as the (NIH) National Institutes of Health now recommend earlier, more aggressive treatment of high cholesterol in people at risk for heart disease.

The new NIH guidelines extend the list of people considered to be at risk for heart disease to include those with diabetes and metabolic syndrome (a combination of obesity, high blood pressureand other conditions). The stricter guidelines could mean a significant increase how many Americans are placed on low-cholesterol diets and in the number of those given cholesterol-lowering drugs. Stndards for acceptable cholesterol levels change under the new guidelines, too. The NIH says an optimal level of low-density lipoprotein (LDL, or "bad" cholesterol) is less than 100 mg per deciliter HDL, or "good" cholesterol levels should be at least 40 mg/dL.

The new guidelines were published in the 05/01 issue of JAMA (the Journal of the American Medical Association).

The Bottom Line:

Exercise, losing excess weight and dietary improvements are the most important lifestyle changes recommended by the NIH to maintain healthy levels of cholesterol. The New Engand Journal of Medicine says regular exercise and diet modification helps ward off diabetes.

What would people's lives be like if they were on lifestyle oriented approaches to develop thei health rather than treat conditions after they develop?