National Cholesterol Education Program
Encyclopedia
The National Cholesterol Education Program is a program managed by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, a division of the National Institutes of Health
. Its goal is to reduce increased cardiovascular disease
rates due to hypercholesterolemia
(elevated cholesterol
levels) in the United States of America. The program has been running since 1985.
The assigned goal of the NCEP committee is to meet on a recurring basis, review ongoing scientific research about atherosclerotic
cardiovascular disease
and make simplified, consensus, committee recommendations to be promoted by the NIH, the American Heart Association
and other groups to both physicians and the public about how to reduce the incidence of disability and death resulting from atherosclerotic
cardiovascular disease
.
National Institutes of Health
The National Institutes of Health are an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services and are the primary agency of the United States government responsible for biomedical and health-related research. Its science and engineering counterpart is the National Science Foundation...
. Its goal is to reduce increased cardiovascular disease
Cardiovascular disease
Heart disease or cardiovascular disease are the class of diseases that involve the heart or blood vessels . While the term technically refers to any disease that affects the cardiovascular system , it is usually used to refer to those related to atherosclerosis...
rates due to hypercholesterolemia
Hypercholesterolemia
Hypercholesterolemia is the presence of high levels of cholesterol in the blood. It is not a disease but a metabolic derangement that can be caused by many diseases, notably cardiovascular disease...
(elevated cholesterol
Cholesterol
Cholesterol is a complex isoprenoid. Specifically, it is a waxy steroid of fat that is produced in the liver or intestines. It is used to produce hormones and cell membranes and is transported in the blood plasma of all mammals. It is an essential structural component of mammalian cell membranes...
levels) in the United States of America. The program has been running since 1985.
The assigned goal of the NCEP committee is to meet on a recurring basis, review ongoing scientific research about atherosclerotic
Atherosclerosis
Atherosclerosis is a condition in which an artery wall thickens as a result of the accumulation of fatty materials such as cholesterol...
cardiovascular disease
Cardiovascular disease
Heart disease or cardiovascular disease are the class of diseases that involve the heart or blood vessels . While the term technically refers to any disease that affects the cardiovascular system , it is usually used to refer to those related to atherosclerosis...
and make simplified, consensus, committee recommendations to be promoted by the NIH, the American Heart Association
American Heart Association
The American Heart Association is a non-profit organization in the United States that fosters appropriate cardiac care in an effort to reduce disability and deaths caused by cardiovascular disease and stroke. It is headquartered in Dallas, Texas...
and other groups to both physicians and the public about how to reduce the incidence of disability and death resulting from atherosclerotic
Atherosclerosis
Atherosclerosis is a condition in which an artery wall thickens as a result of the accumulation of fatty materials such as cholesterol...
cardiovascular disease
Cardiovascular disease
Heart disease or cardiovascular disease are the class of diseases that involve the heart or blood vessels . While the term technically refers to any disease that affects the cardiovascular system , it is usually used to refer to those related to atherosclerosis...
.