Despite clear and consistent clinical-trial evidence establishing a causal link between lipid disorders and coronary heart disease and that cholesterol-lowering therapy dramatically reduces the risk for that disease and its complications, many patients for whom such treatment is indicated remain either unidentified or untreated. Our objective is to present updated, practical information for primary-care physicians on the evaluation and management of lipid disorders, particularly those related to the primary and secondary prevention of coronary heart disease, the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in our population. A pertinent summary of the guidelines contained in the Third Report of the National Cholesterol Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation and Treatment of Cholesterol in Adults (Adult Treatment Panel III), commonly known as ATP III, is utilized to better fulfill that objective.