“I'll help you reach your lower cholesterol goal.”
Know the score.
Everybody being treated for high cholesterol should know the number for his or her
LDL, or “bad” cholesterol. You can get your LDL cholesterol number from
a simple blood test. Just ask your doctor.
Set an LDL goal.
Everybody being treated for high cholesterol should have a goal for LDL cholesterol.
Try to set the number below your
actual goal. Your doctor will determine what your goal should be. Generally, your
LDL goal should be under 130. However, if you have heart disease, diabetes, or are
otherwise at high risk for a heart attack or stroke, your doctor will probably want
you to have an LDL level below 100.
Develop a plan.
Not reaching your goal? Then it’s time to go on the offensive. The plan that
you and your doctor develop may include improving your diet, increasing your exercise,
increasing the dose of your medication, adding a medication, changing to another
medication, or some combination of these.
Check your performance.
Has your doctor prescribed a cholesterol-lowering medication? If so, your doctor
will be testing your liver and muscle enzymes for rare side effects. And your doctor
will also retest your cholesterol level from time to time to make sure that you’re
taking the right medication at the right dosage to reach your goal.
Remember ...
To lower your risk of heart attack or stroke: Set your goal. Develop a plan.
Check your performance. And If Medco manages your prescription program
and we see a medication safety issue, a Cardiovascular Pharmacist will work with
your doctor to help make sure that you’re getting the most effective treatment. |
