Do you have people at your home with high levels of cholesterol?
Are you afraid of getting high cholesterol from your genes?
Could you determine your cholesterol levels from home?
Well, unlike other health issues, high cholesterol does not show any symptoms. This makes it even more challenging. However, when you have the lipid profile blood test, why worry!
Generally, you have both high and low cholesterols in your blood. Cholesterol is a fat component in your blood that play a vital role. This fat percentage in cholesterol is known as a lipoprotein. You have either of the two:
- High-density lipoprotein
- Low-density lipoprotein.
When the low-density lipoprotein exceeds the normal range, it can lead to a deadly heart issue or blood clot. These lipoproteins or lipids constitute the different types of fats and cholesterols.
Since most of you are not aware of the lipid profile test, we have come up with a blog. Right from understanding a lipid profile test to preparing for the test and its procedure, you will find everything in this blog. So, keep reading the blog till the end.
Components measured in a lipid panel test
How can a lipid profile test help you?
By measuring the amount of lipids present in your blood.
Here lipid means, the fat and trans fats constituting the cholesterol percentage in your body. Some of the hormones of your body produce cholesterol that helps to develop and grow the outer membrane of each cell. So, a certain percentage of cholesterol is essential. But too much cholesterol is harmful to your health.
When the amount of cholesterol created by the hormone is more than the normal range, it restricts your blood vessels. This hampers your entire bodily system in two ways:
- By failing to channel and circulate the oxygenated blood to the various parts of your body
- By depositing fats in unnecessary potions of the body
This develops the risk of:
- Stroke
- Heart disease
- Atherosclerosis
These are the primary components measured through a lipid panel blood test:
- HDL
HDL or high-density lipid profile or good cholesterol functions to aluminate the bad cholesterol or low-density lipid profile and purify the blood.
- LDL
LDL or low-density lipid profile or bad cholesterol puts you at risk of developing atherosclerosis or heart disease. When an excessive amount of load density profile develops in the walls of your veins and arteries, it can lead to a sudden stroke.
- Triglycerides
Triglycerides are the small molecular components that are broken down from the percentage of your food. So, technically these triglycerides are the fact cells accumulated from the food you eat. Your body needs fats to produce energy.
After transforming a certain percentage of fat cells into energy, the remaining fat changes into triglycerides. A high percentage of triglyceride in your blood and cardiovascular issues go hand in hand. When you develop one, the other automatically follows. You can have high triglycerides if you are:
- Obese
- Have no control over your diet
- Drink a lot of alcohol
- Consume a diet high in calories
- VLDL
VLDL or very low-density lipoprotein can put you at risk of developing a cardiovascular issue. Generally, the VLDL levels constitute 20% of your triglyceride levels. Since VLDL levels do not determine your cholesterol count, many tests have no mention of this in the report.
- Total cholesterol
LDL + HDL + Triglycerides + VLDL = Total cholesterol
In short, it is the summation of all the various components of cholesterol. This helps in the proper measurement of the cholesterol in your blood.
Should you undergo a lipid panel test?
Now arises a million-dollar question: “Who needs a lipid profile blood test?” Well, not everyone needs a lipid profile blood test. Are you more than 20 years old? If so, then go ahead for a lipid test. The other conditions that make you more susceptible to undergoing the lipid panel test include:
- If you are obese or overweight
- If your family has a history of high cholesterol levels
- If your family history includes heart issues
- If you have a habit of smoking or chewing tobacco
- If you possess a sedentary and inactive lifestyle
Some of the health issues and diseases that lead to a high lipid profile count include:
- Kidney disease
- Diabetes
- Underactive thyroid gland
- Polycystic ovary syndrome
For all healthy adults, a lipid profile blood test at least once in four years is a must. Unfortunately, these days, the lifestyle of people is leading them to develop cholesterol at an early phase of life. Want to prevent it? Get into some exercise regime to stay fit.
How to prepare for a lipids test?
When it comes to preparing for any health test, people start panicking. These are the questions that must be triggering your mind:
- Do I have to fast?
- Do I have to stop eating?
- Do I need to follow a strict dietary regime?
Well, put a full-stop to your ramblings. When the doctor asks you to undergo a lipids test, you need not panic. It is as simple and easy as any other blood test.
In a lipid profile test, the doctor can ask you to fast the previous night. The purpose of this 8-hour fast is to get accurate cholesterol reports. So, it is better to take the test in the morning right after you wake up. Apart from water, the doctor does not allow anything else to let into your body system for obvious reasons.
For the sample collection, the healthcare professional takes up the following steps:
Step 1: First, the healthcare professional ties an elastic band tightly on your arm, above your elbow to make the vein visible.
Step 2: Then, he pushes the syringe into the vein to collect the blood sample.
Step 3: Finally, the healthcare professional sends the collected sample for testing in the lab.
Conclusion
Therefore, lipids test measures the accurate amount of cholesterol in your blood. The problem occurs when the LDL overpowers and surpasses the HDL. To maintain the level of cholesterol, make sure to follow a healthy lifestyle. Small changes in your lifestyle can bring better results. Besides, for a healthy heart, maintain your cholesterol levels.
