High cholesterol physical examination: Difference between revisions

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Elevated [[cholesterol]] does not lead to specific physical examination signs unless it has been longstanding. Some types of hypercholesterolemia lead to specific physical findings:
Elevated [[cholesterol]] does not lead to specific physical examination signs unless it has been longstanding. Some types of hypercholesterolemia lead to specific physical findings:


Head, eyes, ears, nose throat (HEENT):  ''[[xanthelasma|xanthelasma palpabrum]]'' (yellowish patches around the eyelids) and [[arcus senilis]] (white discoloration of the peripheral cornea).
*'''Head, eyes, ears, nose throat (HEENT):''' ''[[xanthelasma|xanthelasma palpabrum]]'' (yellowish patches around the eyelids) and [[arcus senilis]] (white discoloration of the peripheral cornea).


Longstanding elevated hypercholesterolemia leads to accelerated [[atherosclerosis]]; this can express itself in a number of [[cardiovascular disease]]s:
* '''Heart and Lungs:''' [[Congestive heart failure]] and rales due to ischemia or [[myocardial infarction]] (heart attack)


Heart and Lungs: [[Congestive heart failure]] and rales due to ischemia or [[myocardial infarction]] (heart attack)
*'''Extremities:'''
:*[[Xanthoma]] (thickening of [[tendon]]s due to accumulation of [[cholesterol]])
:*Reduced femoral, posterior tibial, and dorsalis pedis pulses and femoral bruit due to [[peripheral artery disease]] (PAD)


Neurologic exam: Signs of either [[transient ischemic attack]s (TIAs) or [[cerebrovascular accident]]s/[[Stroke]]s
* '''Neurologic exam:''' Signs of either [[transient ischemic attack]s (TIAs) or [[cerebrovascular accident]]s/[[Stroke]]s


Peripheral arterial exam:
*[[Xanthoma]] (thickening of [[tendon]]s due to accumulation of [[cholesterol]])
*Reduced femoral, posterior tibial, and dorsalis pedis pulses and femoral bruit due to [[peripheral artery disease]] (PAD)


==References==
==References==

Revision as of 16:07, 25 June 2011

Template:Hypercholesterolemia

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Elevated cholesterol does not lead to specific physical examination signs unless it has been longstanding. Some types of hypercholesterolemia lead to specific physical findings:

  • Extremities:


References

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