Beginner’s Guide: How to Read a Lipid Profile and Why It’s Important
A lipid profile is a blood analysis that measures the cholesterol levels in the body. The panel is made up of triglycerides, the good (HDL) and bad (LDL) cholesterol levels. This type of profile is something that gives your doctor a general overview of what is happening in your body and provide a benchmark to predict your risk for heart disease.
For example, unstable triglycerides and cholesterol levels may clog the arteries and provoke heart problems. Therefore, with regular on-time testing, you will be able to predict whether or not you are at risk of developing certain heart conditions. This will make it much easier to implement adequate managing techniques and keep these levels in check.
How Do I Read My Lipid Profile Test Results?
To be in complete control of your health, it’s important to understand how to interpret your lipid test. Every profile can contain the following parts:
· Total cholesterol levels
· LDL Cholesterol
· HDL Cholesterol
· Triglycerides
Each of these components has an important role to play and can provide insight to your current health condition.
Total Cholesterol Levels
The liver produces cholesterol. This substance with a wax-like consistency to keep the system up and running. It can also be obtained from specific foods packed with trans fats and saturated fats.
➢ Why Is it Important?
The body needs adequate cholesterol levels to function normally, but if these levels drop too low or go too high, they can cause serious health problems. Fluctuating cholesterol levels could be a predecessor for a potential heart condition.
LDL Cholesterol
The cholesterol is divided into two types; the LDL is one of them. Low-density lipoprotein commonly referred to as LDL cholesterol, is what we call the “bad” one. We refer to it as bad because it can clog the arteries and increase the risk of potential heart disease.
➢ Why Is It Important?
If the levels are exceedingly high, the LDL cholesterol can cause deposits in the arteries. These deposits will narrow or harden the blood vessels, which can affect the transportation of oxygen in the system. If there isn’t enough oxygen to get to the heart, people can experience a heart attack.
HDL Cholesterol
The HDL cholesterol is the one everyone knows as good cholesterol. This is the one in charge of protecting the entire system and shielding it from harmful heart problems. Its main role is to carry the cholesterol from one part of the body all the way to the liver. The liver will then process it for the body to function normally.
➢ Why Is It Important?
HDL cholesterol is a major component of avoiding heart diseases. Based on statistics, high levels reduce the probability of coronary heart disease from 2% to up to 3% and decrease heart disease mortality rates from 3.7% to 4.7%. Since heart problems are the main cause of death for both women and men in the U.S., managing HDL cholesterol can have some substantial benefits.
Triglycerides
Triglycerides are a certain fat located in the bloodstream. Anything that we eat will be converted into calories, like a source of fuel for the body. But, when the body doesn’t need any more fuel, it will transform it into triglycerides.
➢ Why Is It Important?
Increased levels can cause an inflamed pancreas, thick artery walls, heart problems, and even stroke. Plus, they make the body more susceptible to metabolic syndromes, like diabetes, that can affect the entire immune system and blood pressure.
How to Interpret Lipid Test Results?
Many people are unable to interpret their lipid test results. These general outlines can help you better understand your blood analysis. These measures depict the status of cholesterol and triglycerides and are categorized based on their type and level.
Cholesterol Levels
What Makes the Levels Fluctuate?
Multiple factors can contribute to the rise or fall of cholesterol levels. Mainly, it depends on lifestyle, diet, family history, and age. Increased HDL levels are ideal for a healthy heart, but high LDL levels can increase the risk of heart problems. Keeping the LDL low and HDL high is the best way to stay healthy.
How Do I Manage These Levels?
You can control the cholesterol levels with a proper and healthy diet, active lifestyle, and adequate weight-management schedules. However, in many cases, these fluctuating levels could be hereditary, which means it is important to implement all of these strategies to be in complete control of these levels. If you learn how to calculate and measure cholesterol levels, it will be much easier to know when you should implement these strategies.
References
https://www.webmd.com/cholesterol-management/understanding-your-cholesterol-report#1
https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/cholesterol-test/about/pac-20384601
https://www.healthline.com/health/ldl-cholesterol#whos-at-risk