A lipid profile (lipid panel or complete cholesterol test) is a blood test that measures the amount of fat you have in your blood. It is a good way to find out if you have excess cholesterol and triglycerides circulating in your arteries which can increase your risk of cardiovascular problems such as heart disease and stroke.
What is cholesterol?
Cholesterol is a type of fat. Your body makes some cholesterol naturally, and you also get cholesterol from animal-based foods (milk, eggs, and meat). Eating a diet rich in these foods may increase the amount of cholesterol in your blood.
Why should I measure my cholesterol?
Too much cholesterol can cause deposits of a substance called plaque in your arteries. This can result in a condition called atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is a key cause of premature death from cardiovascular disease. If a piece of the plaque breaks off, a blood clot may form on the surface of the plaque. Blood clots may decrease and in severe cases block the blood flow and oxygen to your heart, brain, and other parts of your body. A significant blockage may lead to a heart attack or stroke, and you may need a surgery to improve the supply of blood to your heart muscle.
One of the best ways to reduce your risk of having a heart attack or stroke is to reduce and control the amount of cholesterol in your blood.
What does a lipid test measure?
A lipid test measures four specific types of fat that travel around in your blood stream.
- Total cholesterol
- Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol
- High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol
- Triglycerides
Total Cholesterol
This is the sum of all the different types of cholesterol in your blood (for example, the HDL and the LDL numbers combined). It is possible to have a high total cholesterol due to high levels of HDL, which is good, or high levels of LDL, which is bad.
It is generally recommended that you keep your total cholesterol under 200 mg/dL to reduce your risk of developing heart disease. A total cholesterol level over 240 mg/dL doubles your risk of heart disease.
LDL is a combination of fat and protein found in the blood. LDL is a major contributor to blocked arteries, and a high LDL level is related to a higher risk of atherosclerosis. Levels less than 130 mg/dL are optimal for most people.
HDL is also a combination of fat and protein found in the blood. It helps protect against heart disease because it helps remove excess cholesterol from the blood. Levels more than 60 mg/dL are optimal for most people.
Triglycerides are also a type of fat found in the blood. They are affected most by the foods you eat (sugar, fat, alcohol). They can also be raised if you are overweight, have thyroid or liver disease, and by genetic conditions. High levels of triglycerides are related to a higher risk of heart disease. A value less than 150 mg/dl is optimal for most people. More than 200 mg/dL is high risk for diabetes and blood vessel diseases.
What is good and bad cholesterol?
Raised levels of LDL cholesterol are associated with an increased risk of developing blockages in the heart arteries. Raised levels of HDL cholesterol reduce that risk. Because of this, doctors sometimes refer to LDL as “bad cholesterol” and to HDL as “good cholesterol.”
What do my cholesterol blood test numbers mean?
When you look at your lipid profile results, it’s important to look at all the numbers from the test to get a complete picture.
Below is a chart with reference lipid profile values:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/cholesterol-test/about/pac-20384601
https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/cholesterol-test/about/pac-20384601
https://dietscienceleader.tumblr.com/ post/124569068905/unfold-your-lipid-profile
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