RESPONSE DISCUSSION
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response2week10655.docxQUESTIONS TO ANSWER:
Post an explanation of the differential diagnosis for the patient in the case study you selected. Explain which is the most likely diagnosis for the patient and why. Then, based on the appropriate clinical guidelines, explain a treatment and management plan for the patient, including proper dosages for any recommended treatments. Finally, explain strategies for educating patients on the disorder.
Hyperlipidemia – Hyperlipidemia (HLD) means an individual has high lipids, also known as fats in relation to cholesterol and triglycerides. The patient’s following labs are as followed:
TC: 305 mmol/L - high
LDL: 180 mg/dl - high
HDL: 30 mg/dl – high risk for heart disease
Triglycerides: 165 mg/dl – desirable
These levels place a patient a high risk for plaque buildup. LDLs are considered bad cholesterol with HDLs being the good cholesterol. The body needs fats, but when the levels are not within normal range puts the patient at risk. It would be very important for the patient to quite smoking, if she is a smoker because smoking decreases HDLs. Also, losing weight will help bring down the LDLs and help increase the HDLs. Causes of HLD include the following: genetics, unhealthy diet, smoking, lack of physical activity, and being overweight (American Heart Association, 2020).
Overweight – This patient is overweight meaning that her BMI is 25 or higher. When a BMI is less than 18.5, that means they are underweight. When a BMI is 18.5 to less than 25, means the patient is within normal weight range. If the BMI 25 to less than 30, then that means the patient is overweight, but if the patient’s BMI is 30 or greater, then that means the patient is obese. Obesity can be subdivided into three classes: class one with a BMI 30 to less than 35; class two of a BMI 35 to less than 40; and class three of a BMI greater than or equal to 40 (CDC, 2017).
Treatment: The patient would need to be started on atorvastatin 40 to 80mg once daily. Along with the new medication, she needs to change her diet to heart healthy diets by reducing the amount of total saturated fats she eats by intaking a total of fat between 25% and 35%, saturated fat of less than 7%, and a trans-fat of less than 1%. Also losing weight and being active by walking 30 minutes a day or even doing aerobics (Epocrates, 2020).
References
American Heart Association. (2020). Prevention and treatment of high cholesterol (hyperlipidemia). Retrieved from https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/cholesterol/prevention-and-treatment-of-high-cholesterol-hyperlipidemia
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2017). Overweight and obesity. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/adult/defining.html
Epocrates. (2020). Hypercholesterolemia. Retrieved from https://online.epocrates.com/diseases/17042/Hypercholesterolemia/Treatment-Options
