In 2018, Jordan Stiteler became a Healthy Nevada Project advocate. Her DNA results revealed that she had Familial Hypercholesterolemia (FH). FH is a genetic condition that can cause high cholesterol. Since then, Jordan’s taken action to lower her cholesterol and make her family aware of this potentially dangerous condition.
Looking at Jordan, an active young mother, you would never suspect she has high cholesterol. However, because of FH, Jordan’s cholesterol levels are unusually high. She chose to take action when learning of her FH gene, in order to maintain her long-term health.
Jordan started by exercising more and eating healthier. “I’ve definitely been checking all the labels to see if the food has a lot of cholesterol, trans fats, or saturated fats,” she explains. She now eats a 100% plant-based diet which helps to lower her cholesterol naturally.
Additionally, Jordan partnered with Dr. Michael Bloch, a lipid specialist, to monitor and manage her cholesterol. She told Dr. Bloch that she and her husband were planning on having a second baby. With this in mind, he helped Jordan create a plan to accommodate her pregnancy.
Several months after giving birth to her beautiful daughter Logan, it was time to revisit her cholesterol treatment plan. Dr. Bloch prescribed Jordan a statin called Lipitor. It successfully cut her total cholesterol by half in just three months.
“I had blood work done in November 2019 and my total cholesterol was 293 (normal is less than 199). I started taking cholesterol medication in February 2020. I had blood work done in June 2020 and my total cholesterol was 149, ” Jordan shares. “My LDLs went from 219 to 78! I am so grateful that the medication worked so well and so quickly! It’s a weight lifted off of my shoulders.”
Although Jordan no longer limits herself to a strictly vegan diet, she is mindful of what she eats and how it affects her cholesterol. She’s thrilled that her cholesterol is now at a healthy level!
Lynch Syndrome Testing
The Lynch Syndrome genetic test with the Healthy NV Project is a blood test that checks for DNA mutations that raise colon cancer risk.
Since FH is a genetic condition, Jordan knew that some of her family members must have it too. She encouraged her family to participate in the Healthy Nevada Project, and many of them took her advice. “We were able to discover that the FH runs on my dad’s side, because my dad’s mom also has FH.
We also found out that my brother has FH as do at least two other extended family members on my dad’s side of the family,” she observes.
Remember the 2000s era iPhone commercial with the “There’s an App for That” tagline? Let’s put a healthcare spin on that – at Renown Health, there’s a unit for that. Emergency, labor and delivery, pediatric acute care, trauma, surgery, the list goes on.
When it comes to critical care, your mind probably jumps to either the intensive care unit (ICU), emergency room (ER) or a unit that provides care for a more standard hospitalization. But what about the patients who fall in between those two levels of care?
Yep, there’s a unit for that at Renown, too. It’s called the Intermediate Care Unit (IMCU), located on the sixth floor of the Tahoe Tower (T6) at Renown Regional Medical Center, boasting a dedicated team of nurses, physicians, critical care technicians and more.
The IMCU cares for patients who still need close monitoring and specialized care but don't need an ICU stay. Everyone in this department shares common missions: catch early signs of change, intervene swiftly and help patients progress to a lower level of care – and eventually, back home.
Workplace Violence in Healthcare: A Call for Kindness and Action
Many people are fortunate enough not to have to worry about their physical and mental well-being when they go to work. Unfortunately, this is not the case for countless healthcare workers across the nation, for whom workplace violence is a daily concern.
Renown volunteers generously provide their time, talent and support to those in need across Renown Health. This month, in celebration of National Volunteer Month, we want to recognize the incredible contributions of our volunteers who serve in various roles, from providing healing music or haircuts to offering companionship with friendly pets and more.
Join us as we celebrate the hundreds of Renown volunteers who dedicate their time daily, exploring several unique roles in the Q&A below:
