Cholesterol is needed by the body. The body makes cholesterol and it can be consumed in many foods. Excess can build up on artery walls, resulting in cardiovascular disease. For this reason, people need to be aware of their cholesterol levels. A...
The body requires some amount of cholesterol to function properly, but high amounts of total cholesterol may increase your risk for complications such as heart attacks and strokes, explains MedlinePlus. High cholesterol may indicate you need to...
A lipid panel is ultimately a cholesterol test. It's used to determine the level of not just total cholesterol, but also low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and triglycerides in your bloodstream. Often referred to as a...
A lipid panel, also called a lipid profile or a complete cholesterol test, is a blood test used to measure the amount of cholesterol and triglycerides in your blood. The lipid panel, which separates cholesterol readings into three...
A lipid profile tests for concentrations of different types of cholesterol and other kinds of fats present in an individual's blood. While lipid profile tests are standard tests in adults, their use in children is less apparent. Children who are...
A lipid panel is a test that determines the total amount of cholesterol and triglycerides in the body. There are two types of cholesterol -- good cholesterol, called high-density lipoprotein, and bad cholesterol, called low-density lipoprotein....
When you have your cholesterol tested, your doctor may emphasize two particular cholesterols to consider, HDL and LDL. HDL, or high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, is the so-called "good" cholesterol to have. It picks up excess cholesterols in...
A lipid panel blood test measures the cholesterol and triglyceride levels in your blood. There is absolutely a link between insulin and lipids, which are a type of fat. Triglycerides are especially responsive to insulin; elevated triglyceride...
Getting your blood drawn requires a trip to the lab, so health care providers often request that several tests be performed on one blood specimen. Common blood work for multiple issues includes glucose tolerance tests to check for diabetes and...
Cholesterol is a complex subject. You need to have the right levels of high- and low-density cholesterol. Too much of the bad, low-density type is a risk factor for diabetes and heart disease. Testing your blood regularly to determine lipid levels...
According to the Mayo Clinic, getting a cholesterol test is important for those with a family history of high cholesterol or heart disease, have diabetes, are overweight or obese, eat a high-fat diet and are not physically active. Cholesterol...
Complete cholesterol tests, also called lipid panels, measure the levels of cholesterol and triglycerides in your blood. According to the American Heart Association, people who are 20 or older should get a lipid panel done at least every five...
Although cholesterol tests provide a single, bottom-line number (total cholesterol), it's important to keep an eye on four other important levels of cholesterol in order to reduce your risk of heart disease. Knowing and understanding all five...
High cholesterol, also known as hypercholesterolemia, can significantly increase the risk of heart disease and metabolic syndrome. More importantly, certain types of cholesterol within the body are more harmful than others. Unfortunately, these...
Millions of Americans are diagnosed with high cholesterol, also known as hyperlipidemia. Although acute symptoms are typically absent, long-term exposure to high cholesterol increases the risk of heart disease. The treatment of high cholesterol...
High cholesterol is associated with cardiovascular disease, including heart attack and stroke. This is due to fatty deposits in blood vessels that restrict blood flow. If you know which lifestyle factors, such as diet and exercise, affect your...
If your doctor orders routine blood work, it might include a lipid panel and fasting glucose test to monitor your cholesterol and blood sugar levels. Such tests performed periodically are part of a standard health maintenance protocol when you're...
According to the American Heart Association, when looking at your total blood cholesterol levels, you want to aim for reading of 200 mg/dL or less. Anything over 200 mg/dL puts you in a borderline risk category, and anything over 239 mg/dL is...
Calculating your cholesterol ratio can provide useful information about your risk for heart disease. According to the American Heart Association, some physicians and cholesterol technicians use the ratio of total cholesterol to HDL, or high...
Cholesterol is a wax-like substance that is transported through your arteries in lipids called lipoproteins. While some cholesterol allows your body to synthesize important vitamins and hormones, too much cholesterol in your arteries can lead to...
Some people fast to lose weight or remove toxins from their body, while others fast for religious purposes. You may be asked to fast before going to the doctor for a check-up. Blood tests that check cholesterol and triglyceride levels, require...
Cholesterol is a waxy substance that accumulates in your blood vessels. As your blood vessels narrow, your risk of having a heart attack or stroke increases greatly. Your body produces cholesterol and you gain it from the foods you eat.. There are...
Excessively high cholesterol levels are a leading factor in instances of heart disease and stroke. To asses one's risk of experiencing one of these health problems, a total cholesterol count is helpful. Cholesterol is a waxy substance that is...
Checking your triglycerides, which are a type of cholesterol, can save your life by preventing heart disease before it happens. More than 100 million adults in the U.S. as of 2010 have high cholesterol levels, according to the Centers for Disease...
You might hear these terms rolling off your doctor's tongue every time you go for your physical--total cholesterol, good cholesterol, bad cholesterol and triglycerides. He explains what they mean, but usually in medical jargon you don't...
Cholesterol tests help you evaluate your risk of developing heart disease. Although cholesterol has a number of important functions in the body, including the manufacture of hormones and bile, cholesterol can also raise your likelihood of having a...
A lipid profile, which is a measurement of the amount of triglycerides and cholesterol in the blood, is often used to help predict a person's risk of developing heart disease. High triglyceride levels can result in an increased risk of coronary...
When you have your cholesterol checked at a doctor's office, lab personnel will measure your "total cholesterol" with a blood test called the fasting lipid panel. A fasting lipid panel measures the three types of cholesterol: LDL cholesterol, HDL...
Blood tests can help your doctor determine risk for disease, diagnose disease or follow the progress of treatment. Two common blood tests are a lipid panel and blood glucose test. A lipid panel, also called a coronary risk profile, is used to help...