Hypercholesterolemia. Prevention and control.

In the last few years, public concern about cholesterol has become a national preoccupation. Concerned consumers increasingly direct their questions about cholesterol to the nurses with whom they come in contact. Nurses in any setting who are knowledgeable about cholesterol are in an ideal position to teach current, accurate, potentially life-saving information about it. Nurses everywhere have a responsibility to assist consumers to achieve the goals of the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) panel of experts within the next few years. This article describes the prevention and control of hypercholesterolemia through dietary and life-style changes. Drug therapy for control of hypercholesterolemia is discussed. Specific nursing interventions that are designed to assist people to achieve the NCEP goals are outlined.