Lecture 25 - Lipid lowering therapy

Question 1

What are lipids?

Answer 1

1. Cholesterol.
2. Triglycerides.
3. Fatty acids.
4. Phospholipids.

Question 2

Why do we lower cholesterol?

Answer 2

High cholesterol can increase a persons risk of heart diseases and heart attacks. We lower cholesterol to decrease the risk of CVS events occurring in the first place (primary prevention) and decrease the risk of CVS events happening again (secondary prevention).

Question 3

What is the ideal therapeutical range?

Answer 3

1. Total cholesterol = <4mmol/L.
2. LDL = <1.8-2mmol/L.
3. Triglycerides = <2.2mmol/L.

Question 4

How do we lower cholesterol?

Answer 4

1. Changing lifestyle - diet, exercise, lose weight.

2. Drugs - statins, fibrates and ezetimib.