Abstract

Hyperlipidaemia, together with smoking, hypertension and insufficient physical exercise, is now recognised as an important risk factor for coronary heart disease (CHD). Lowering high plasma cholesterol levels reduces the risk of developing CHD^1,2 and can slow its progression^3,4. A health education programme to reduce our very high incidence of CHD by altering lifestyle and diet is being encouraged^5,6. It needs to be combined with screening for, and modifying, individual risk factors. This article discusses such a strategy for hyperlipidaemia.