Quick Facts About Lipid Profile Tests

There are “good” and “bad” cholesterol that could affect the risk of having heart diseases and lipid disorders. Know the importance of lipid panel or lipid profile tests as veteran medical professional Dr. Pratibha Karande sheds light on it.

What are lipids? Why are they important?

Lipids, in other words, are generally called as fats. These fats that we are always worried about are nothing but the presence of fats which are actually generated by our liver. These fats are very essential for the normal functioning of our body. They need to be within their normal limits. When these fats or lipids rise on the higher side than the normal requirement of our body, then it proves to be problematic. For this purpose, it is necessary that we keep our lipids in control. Hence for this, it is important that we check our lipid profile or fats in our body.

Which tests fall under lipid profile?

When you check the report of a lipid profile test, you will see that there are many tests which can be incorporated into this profile. Out of these, the significant ones are:

• Total cholesterol
• LDL cholesterol
• VLDL cholesterol
• HDL cholesterol

What are LDL, VLDL, and HDL cholesterol?

• LDL cholesterol – low density lipoprotein
• VLDL cholesterol – very low density lipoprotein
• HDL – high density lipoprotein

When a doctor checks all these tests under lipid profile, what majorly gives him a clue is that when your total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol are on the higher side, then he feels or suggests that the patient may suffer from dyslipidemia which is a medical terminology for lipids on the higher side. In the same test report, on the other hand, your HDL cholesterol always needs to be on the higher side. HDL cholesterol or high density lipoproteins are good fats or cholesterol of our body.

When to do the lipid profile tests?

• When the doctor suggests or suspects that you need to do a complete general checkup of your body
• When he suspects that there are certain changes in your lipid levels
• When you already have the family history of heart diseases or dyslipidemia (higher side of lipids)
• To rule out the chances of high lipids in your body
• When you are already suffering from cardiac or diabetic complications. You need to undergo these tests to generalize the presence of lipids and effects of drugs in your body