Cholesterol (Chol) Lab Values - podcast episode cover

Cholesterol (Chol) Lab Values

Lab Values Podcast by NURSING.com (Nursing Podcast, normal lab values for nurses for NCLEX®) by NURSING.com (NRSNG)
May 29, 2023•4 min
--:--
--:--
Listen in podcast apps:
Apple Podcasts
Spotify
Download
YouTube
Overcast
Pocket Casts
Episodes.fm
Download Metacast podcast app
Listen to this episode in Metacast mobile app
Don't just listen to podcasts. Learn from them with transcripts, summaries, and chapters for every episode. Skim, search, and bookmark insights. Learn more

Episode description

Overview
  1. Cholesterol
    1. Normal Value Range
    2. Pathophysiology
    3. Any special considerations when drawing the lab (i.e. on ice, etc.)
    4. Too High: Causes, Symptoms, Treatments
    5. Too Low: Causes, Symptoms, Treatments
Nursing Points General
  1. Normal values
  2. Pathophysiology
    1. Functions
      1. Essential in cell membrane formation
      2. Precursor to Vitamin D
      3. Precursor to hormone formation
      4. Synthesized in liver
    2. Lipoproteins
      1. High Density Lipoprotein (HDL)
        1. Removes excess levels of cholesterol
        2. Goal >60 mg/dL
      2. Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL)
        1. Contributes to plaque buildup
        2. Goal
    3. Excess cholesterol and lipid buildup
      1. Contributes to:
        1. Atherosclerosis
        2. Arteriosclerosis
  3. Special considerations
    1. Submit in green top tube
    2. Ensure patient fasts
      1. Food intake can alter results
  4. Elevated cholesterol levels
    1. Obesity
    2. Cushing's Disease
    3. Hypothyroidism
    4. Ischemic heart disease
    5. Diabetes
    6. Liver disease
      1. Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
    7. Malabsorption
      1. For all patients, attempt to decrease cholesterol levels with diet/exercise;
      2. If no improvement, incorporate statins (unless immediate concern for impending disease (such as stroke or MI)
  5. Decreased cholesterol levels
    1. Burns
    2. Hyperthyroidism
    3. Chronic Myelocytic Leukemia
    4. Malnutrition
    5. Anorexia
Assessment
  1. Assess fitness/activity lifestyle and goals
  2. Assess nutritional status, goals and lifestyle
Therapeutic Management
  1. Incorporate low fat diet
  2. Incorporate fitness/activity increase as tolerated
Nursing Concepts
  1. Lab Values
  2. Nutrition
Patient Education
  1. Educate patient on utilizing a low fat/low cholesterol diet
  2. Educate patient on appropriate fitness or activity level increase dependent on tolerance
For the best experience, listen in Metacast app for iOS or Android