Question

Mrs. AA is a 39-year-old female who feels fine. However, she recently had her cholesterol level checked at the Community Health Center and was told that it exceeded the normal value. During her check-up, the nurse collects Mrs. AA’s social and health history. Her vital signs are within normal limits, except that her blood pressure is elevated (142/90 mm Hg). She is also slightly overweight (60.5kg) and has been on a low-carbohydrate diet for 1 week. Her loves to eat junk foods and all dairy products, especially ice cream and cheese. She admits to smoking less than a pack of cigarettes per day and drinks occasionally.

A series of laboratory tests is completed the next day of her visit. Her physical examination is normal, and there are no Electrocardiogram (ECG) abnormalities. The blood tests are unremarkable with the exception of the lipid profile.

Client Value                           Normal Range

Total cholesterol                6.5 mmol/L Less than      5 mmol/L

Triglycerides                      2.5 mmol/L              Less than      1.52 mmol/L

HDL cholesterol                    1 mmol/L              Greater than 1.55 mmol/L

LDL cholesterol                  4.7 mmol/L 3.5 mmol/L

Cholesterol-to-HDL ratio    6.6 Less than       4.5

The client is placed on a standard cholesterol-lowering diet and prescribed Atorvastatin (Lipitor) 10 mg PO daily. She is instructed to return to the Health Center in 1 month for a follow-up visit. Before the client would go home, you will be providing instruction on her medications.

. Although Mrs. AA is too compliant in taking her maintenance medication, she regularly shops for her favorite food almost every week, mostly potato chips, cheese and ice cream. What health teaching should you provide to her with regards to her diet?

Answer 1

Aim to eat the foods which will promote low level of bad cholesterol and high level of good cholesterol. Pay attention to which type of fat is entering to the body.
You can maintain your taste in the diet even by simply controlling the high cholesterol foods.

Red meat, sausage, bacon, kidney, liver and other animal based food has to be avoided.
Healthy fats can be included in the diet to lower bad cholesterol level.

Include more fibres in your diet. Soluble fibres helps to remove cholesterol through stool.
Cholestrol friendly fibre foods like salmon, tuna, nutsolive oil, oats etcare recommendable.

Always choose leaner cuts of meat and fat free milk and yoghurt.

Adopting some cooking techniques will help to reduce saturated fat in food.

Use a rack to drain off while broiling or roasting the meat.
Broil or grill the meat the instead of pan frying.
Skimming off the top layer of congealed fat in the refrigerated soup will be advisable.
Cut all the visible fat meat and remove the skin from poultry before cooking.