Lipid Testing

Everyone age 20 or older should have a blood test known as a fasting lipid profile at least once every 5 years. You can't eat or drink alcohol for 9 to 12 hours before the test, so it's usually best to schedule it first thing in the morning. This test will measure your:

  • Total cholesterol
  • LDL-C (bad cholesterol)
  • HDL-C (good cholesterol)
  • Triglycerides

After you take your blood test, your doctor will discuss the results with you. The numbers the test gives you will help you and your doctor decide what steps, if any, need to be taken. The doctor may give you a printout of your test results. If not, make sure to write down your cholesterol numbers before you leave the doctor's office.

Understanding Your Test Results2

Your levels are measured in milligrams per deciliter of blood (mg/dL).

  • Triglycerides and LDL-C (bad cholesterol) can raise heart disease risk, so the lower the number, the better.


  • HDL-C (good cholesterol) can protect against heart disease, so the higher the number, the better.

Triglyceride Goals2

You can further improve your health by reducing triglyceride levels. The National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) has set guidelines that put triglyceride numbers in different categories, from normal to very high. The following classifications will show if your triglyceride levels are above normal.

Triglyceride Goal Is Always to Return to Normal2

If your triglycerides are borderline high (150–199 mg/dL), your doctor will recommend weight reduction and exercise. For people with high triglycerides (200–499 mg/dL), drug therapy may be needed, including agents such as LOFIBRA®. In rare cases in which triglycerides are very high (≥500 mg/dL), lowering triglycerides is essential.

Cholesterol Guidelines2

The National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) has set guidelines that put Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (LDL-C) numbers in different heart disease risk categories, ranging from optimal to very high.

While this gives you an idea of where your numbers fall, the same numbers can mean different things for different people. Your overall risk of heart disease from high cholesterol is a combination of many factors. Your doctor will look at your numbers and your medical history to decide on a goal for you.

Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (LDL-C) Goals Are Based on Risks2

Elevated LDL-C is a major cause of cardiac heart disease. Your doctor will determine what level of risk you have based on other medical conditions and risk factors. For example, if you have been diagnosed with heart disease or diabetes, you are already at high risk—even if your LDL-C levels are not unusually high. Each risk factor you have requires you to keep tighter control of your cholesterol.

LDL-C Risk Factors2

  • Cigarette smoking
  • High blood pressure
  • Low HDL-C (<40 mg/dL)
  • Heart disease in immediate family member
  • Age (Men ≥45 years; Women ≥55 years)

High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (HDL-C) Goals1

In the average man, HDL-C levels range from 40 to 50 mg/dL. In the average woman, they range from 50 to 60 mg/dL. HDL-C that's less than 40 mg/dL is too low. A high level of HDL-C may decrease your risk of having a heart attack or stroke, while a low level may increase your risk.

References

1. American Heart Association. About cholesterol. Available at: http://www.americanheart.org. Accessed November 7, 2005.

2. Executive Summary of the Third Report of the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults (Adult Treatment Panel III). JAMA. 2001;285(19):2486-2497.