<p> Aim and intended learning outcomes </p> <p>This article aims to develop nurses’ understanding of hyperlipidaemia, its causes, diagnosis, treatment and relevance to the incidence of coronary heart disease (CHD). After reading this article, you should be able to:</p> ■ <p>Illustrate the basic lipid metabolism and a lipid profile</p> ■ <p>Recognise people who are most at risk from hyperlipidaemia by identifying the risk factors for heart disease</p> ■ <p>Identify appropriate basic lifestyle changes</p> ■ <p>Illustrate basic drug therapy available to treat lipid disorders</p> ■ <p>Recognise the clinical signs of people with familial hypercholesterolemia.</p>