Good Morning Mr.
Brown, my name is Mona and I am a physician’s assistant. Thank you for coming in to meet with me today. Today I’ll be going over your recent lab work along with the results. The last time you were in to see the doctor he ordered testing for you that is known as a lipid panel or a cholesterol panel. A lipid panel is done to measure four main things which are your cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL, and LDLI will now tell you a little about your results and explain what your results mean for your health.
You may feel free to ask any questions to gain clarification of anything that you may not understand. First I will discuss your Triglyceride level results, I want to explain to you exactly what triglycerides are before giving you your personal result. Triglycerides are a type of fat (lipid) found in your blood. Whenever you eat something your body automatically turns any calories it feels is unnecessary for you to have into triglycerides. The triglycerides are then stored in your fat cells, and later on the hormones in your body will set free triglycerides to be used as energy for you in between your meals.
Your triglyceride level result is 145 mg/dl which is good. A normal triglyceride level is considered to be Less than 150 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL). Both Triglycerides and cholesterol are separate types of lipids that circulate in your blood. Triglycerides keep unused calories in somewhat of a reserve storage and they are released to provide your body with energy as needed. Cholesterol is a fat that would normally not be dissolvable to flow freely through the blood, however our bodies has made it possible for cholesterol to be dissolvable and flow freely through the blood with lipoproteins.
Lipoproteins area a group of proteins that is dissolvable. Lipoproteins combine with and carry fat through the blood plasma in the body. Cholesterol is used to build up certain types of cells and hormones within your body. Normal overall cholesterol levels are considered to be under 200 mg/dl. Your test results showed a level of 210 mg/dl, this places you in a range for high cholesterol.
High Density lipoproteins which are often called HDL is the type of cholesterol that is usually referred to as the good type of cholesterol. Having a higher number is better for your health when it relates to HDL. HDL works within your body to maintain the strength of your blood vessels, it helps to allow your blood to flow in the proper way through your body without restraint. Your test results showed a HDL level of 33 mg/dL, a normal range for men is somewhere between 40 and 49 mg/dL.
Due to your lower than normal result of HDL this places you at a potential risk for complications in the blood flow process throughout your arterial walls. Low Density lipoproteins which are often called LDL is the type of cholesterol that is labeled as bad cholesterol. When speaking in terms regarding LDL the lower you numbers are that is the better it is for you in relation to your health. Your LDL levels are 160 mg/dL, A normal result is less than 100 mg/dl.
Your result puts you in an elevated risk category. Having a higher than normal LDL level raises your potential to encounter issues with your heart. High LDL levels slow down the way blood flows through your vessels due to fatty buildup on the walls of your arteries. Now we will go over each result and discuss a few ways in which we can work on improving areas that showed as not so good, and ways to continue to stabilize areas that are good according to your labs. Your Triglyceride level is good, a few ways to ensure that it remains that way is to try and watch your carb intake. Try to be careful about the portion sizes of breads, crackers, bagels, and pastas that you consume.
I think everyone enjoys a nice potato chip from time to time, but those delicious crisps are loaded with lots of things that can wreak havoc on our bodies functioning. I remember you mentioned you enjoy watching football while having your snacks, and that is fine Mr. Brown, I enjoy football and snacks too! Have you ever thought about perhaps instead of regular potato chips switching over to a nice crispy small baked potato with a little sour cream and some heart healthy herbs? It is a delicious alternative to potato chips and small changes such as this can really make a huge impact. Mr. Brown your cholesterol was a bit high, and I know it isn’t anyone’s favorite thing to discuss modifying our exercise routine or the way we eat the foods we enjoy, but it is something to take into consideration for the benefit of our health.
I’d like to share a few simple ideas with you in how you can possibly get in both some exercise and find a healthier way to enjoy all the yummy foods you like. When it comes down to exercise there are some really easy ways to get in more activity without altering your normal routine too much. Did you know that there are hand weights that can be used while you are sitting down and enjoying television? You can use them to exercise and strengthen muscles in your arms while you are enjoying the football games! There are also mini exercise foot pedals that rest on the floor that can be used to strengthen leg muscles, this can also be done while watching television. I think it is a win- win to be able to exercise and enjoy the game at the same time, don’t you Mr. Brown?Stretching and walking are two of the more simple exercise techniques that can be done to booth loosen up tight joints, help you gain more flexibility, and even promote weight loss. One of the best things about stretching and walking is that they both can be done wherever you are! Perhaps during a commercial break you can get up and take a little walk around the living room just to simply stretch your leg muscles out a bit.
There are so many benefits to getting in some daily exercise. Mr. Brown did you know that a reduction of just 5-10 pounds in your weight can make a positive difference in your lab results? Exercise doesn’t have to be complicated or drastically change your routine in order for it to be effective. There are 5 types of foods that are well known to be helpful in getting cholesterol numbers down. I’ll tell you about them and I’ll also provide you with a printout sheet for you to keep for your own reference. After our visit is over if you’d like, I can schedule you an appointment with our nutritionist and she can work up a nice personal meal plan for you that will include many of the foods you enjoy along with some healthier alternatives.
Does that sound like a good idea? Great! Now let’s quickly go over those foods I mentioned so we can get you out of here, you’ve been here for a while and I’m sure there are some more fun things you rather be doing then discussing foods with me all morning!1) Oatmeal and High fiber foodsOatmeal contains soluble fibers which can help to reduce your LDL levels. A 1&1/2 cup serving of oatmeal contains a great serving of healthy fibers. Foods like beans, apples, pears, and prunes are also good types of fibers. 2) Omega 3 fatty acids and fishThe name “fatty” when it comes to Omega 3’s fatty acids is misleading because the type of fatty acids in Omega 3’s help to reduce blood pressure and the risk of developing blood clots.
Salmon, albacore tuna, mackerel, and halibut along with a few others are great types of fish to eat in order to get a nice healthy dose of Omega 3’s. Baking or grilling your fish is the best way to eat it because you can avoid adding extra fats that are typically used when frying fish. 3) Almonds, walnutsAlmonds and walnuts are good for you when eaten in small amounts. Try to steer away from salted, coated, or covered nuts because they contain extra calories to nuts which are already a bit higher in calorie content. Using sliced nuts or almonds in salads instead of using croutons is a great way to cut back on calories. 4) Olive oilOlive oil is the best choice of oil to use for cooking and as a dressing on salads.
Olive oil has heart healthy antioxidants in it that can help keep your HDL cholesterol levels good and lower your LDL cholesterol levels. 5) Foods that contain plant sterolsIt might surprise you to know that plant sterols are in many of the foods you probably already eat from time to time. Foods like whole wheat, oat bran, brown rice, broccoli, apples, tomatoes, avocados, and many other types of fruits, vegetables, and nuts. Mr.
Brown, I again want to thank you for taking the time out of your day to come in and speak with me. I hope that I have explained your test results to you in a way that was easily understandable and that I also was able to give you a few helpful hints on some small ways to incorporate healthier habits into your daily routine. If you have any further questions or need clarity on anything that we’ve discussed today please do not hesitate to call the office. It was great seeing you today, now let’s get that appointment with the nutritionist scheduled for you!ReferencesCholesterol: Top five foods to lower your numbers.
Retrieved November 22, 2015 from http://www. mayoclinic. org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-cholesterol/in-depth/cholesterol/Normal cholesterol levels chart Retrieved November 22, 2015 http://www. cholesterolmenu. com/cholesterol-levels-chart/Tortora, G. J.
, Derrickson, B. H. (2014). Principles of Anatomy and Physiology, 14th Edition.Triglycerides why do they matter? Retrieved November 22, 2015 from http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-cholesterol/in-depth/triglycerides/artWhat foods are high in plant sterols? Retrieved November 22, 2015 from http://herbs.lovetoknow.com/What_Foods_are_High_in_Plant_Sterols
