Most of us have heard of cholesterol but few realise how common it is to find abnormal blood levels. In truth, living in modern society, the majority of us have abnormal cholesterol levels and are potentially at risk from atherosclerotic disease. Sometimes raised levels are obvious, but in other situations the pattern of other blood lipids defines the risk and sometimes even apparently innocent levels benefit from modification.
In just a few decades, health professionals have witnessed the emergence of the study of blood lipids from theoretical science to the forefront of everyday clinical practice. A number of clinical trials have demonstrated that lipid lowering saves lives and prevents heart attacks and strokes, and health professionals are charged with implementing their findings. For a number of reasons, the implementation of the evidence base has been slow but a series of initiatives including new guidelines and directives, involving new structures and pathways of healthcare, have been set in place to redress this.
Inevitably, within an emerging and evolving discipline, a number of questions arise from interested health professionals and the public. At both personal and professional levels, this book aims, by answering a series of questions, to equip the reader with a comprehensive working knowledge of the subject. It is hoped, therefore, that the book will be useful to the range of health professionals who treat lipid disorders as well as the growing number of people who seek accurate, authoritative and unbiased information on which to base their personal health choices.