Cholesterol Test Results Explained

A preview hdl good cholesterol.

Cholesterol test results explained. How is cholesterol measured. Hdl high density lipoprotein cholesterol also called good cholesterol triglycerides fats carried in the blood from the food we eat. For many years doctors used ranges to evaluate hdl good cholesterol levels. Your total blood cholesterol is a measure of the cholesterol components ldl low density lipoprotein cholesterol hdl high density lipoprotein cholesterol and vldl very low density lipoprotein which is the triglyceride carrying component of lipids.

A cholesterol test can help determine your risk of the buildup of plaques in your arteries that can lead to narrowed or blocked arteries throughout your body atherosclerosis. Total cholesterol level below 200 mg dl. These measurements give the doctor a quick snapshot of what s going on in your. This test is frequently performed in adults it takes only a few minutes and it s relatively painless.

Cholesterol is measured in milligrams mg of cholesterol per deciliter dl of blood. How to read cholesterol test results. Your health care professional will be able to help you interpret the blood test results to determine if your cholesterol levels are normal or require treatment. The ideal levels for most adults are.

The primary way to measure your cholesterol levels is with a blood test from your arm usually done in a laboratory. A lipid profile is a blood test that measures the amount of cholesterol and fats called triglycerides in the blood. Since ldl is the bad kind of cholesterol a low ldl level is considered good for your heart. A complete cholesterol test also called a lipid panel or lipid profile is a blood test that can measure the amount of cholesterol and triglycerides in your blood.

This test measures total cholesterol low density lipoproteins ldl cholesterol high density lipoproteins hdl cholesterol and triglycerides.