title: Nutritional intervention in hyperlipidemia.
abstract: Sufficient evidence from laboratory, epidemiological, and clinical studies indicates that blood cholesterol level is an important risk factor for coronary heart disease and that lowering elevated blood cholesterol levels can reduce that risk. Hyperlipidemia can be successfully treated in most people by use of individualized, progressive, nutritional intervention strategies. Nurses must be appropriately educated in dietary assessment techniques, nutritional education, and patient counseling in order to implement these strategies effectively. Recent advances in nutritional intervention focus on a series of progressive phases for dietary reduction of fat that interact with variables associated with the individual's characteristics and life-style. Nurses in all settings see patients who require intervention to lower elevated blood cholesterol. Important contributions to therapy can be made by nurses in the areas of screening, patient education, promotion of behavioral change, monitoring dietary change and patient outcomes, and integration of nutritional intervention with other therapies. The nutritional intervention aspect of health promotion is integral to nursing practice.
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Watson
mesh_terms: D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000451:nursing; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D010353:Patient Education as Topic
chemical_list: D004041:Dietary Fats