The telltale heart: What HDL reveals about a woman’s risk
OBG Management. 2005 June;17(06):21-35
June 1, 2005|OBG Management
Author and Disclosure Information
How to increase HDL cholesterol, the strongest predictor of cardiovascular disease risk in women.
JUDY’S CASE
THERAPEUTIC TARGETS
Judy’s goals should include:
- reducing blood pressure to less than 120/80 mm Hg,
- decreasing weight to about 140 lb,
- achieving a waist measurement of less than 35 inches,
- reducing fasting blood glucose to less than 100 mg/dL,
- decreasing triglycerides to less than 150 mg/dL, total cholesterol to less than 200 mg/dL, and LDL levels to less than 100 mg/dL, and
- raising HDL to more than 45 mg/dL.
All these parameters should be checked every 3 months until the goals are achieved.
If Judy fails to progress or develops symptoms of heart disease, she should be referred to a cardiologist for further evaluation and more aggressive treatment.
The author reports no conflicts relevant to this article.
