Your doctor may order a blood test called a LIPID PROFILE to help diagnose your risk of heart disease. You must be fasting for this blood test. The word "lipid" refers to any type of fat. An excess of fat will build up in the walls of your arteries, causing thickening, making your heart pump harder.

This profile consists of the following tests:

* Blood Cholesterol Level Cholesterol is used by the body in cell membranes, to make hormones, and to make Vitamin D. Excess cholesterol can crystallize in the gall bladder to form gallstones. Too much cholesterol is also associated with arteriosclerosis. Cholesterol blood levels should be less than 200 mg/dl. Cholesterol travels through the blood attached to LIPOPROTEINS. There are two types of LIPOPROTEINS.
* HDL HDL stands for HIGH DENSITY LIPOPROTEIN. You want your HDL level to be HIGH. HDL is called the "good cholesterol." HDL's carry cholesterol out of the bloodstream to be excreted. HDL levels for men should be 40-50 mg/dl. For females, 50-60 mg/dl.
* LDL LDL stands for LOW DENSITY LIPOPROTEIN. You want your LDL level to be LOW. These lipoproteins carry cholesterol to the body's tissues. LDL with cholesterol can accumulate inside blood vessels, causing arteriosclerosis. LDL levels should be less than 100 mg/dl.
* Triglyceride Level Triglycerides are a form of fat. They are stored in your fat cells and also float in the blood stream. They're a supply fuel for energy. Elevated levels are associated with increased risk of heart disease. Normal levels should be less than 150 mg/dl.

Your cholesterol and triglyceride levels can be helped by diet and exercise. In some cases, medication may be needed to keep these levels within normal ranges.



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