Understanding your blood lipid profile is crucial for maintaining good health and preventing cardiovascular diseases. A lipid profile, often part of routine health checks, measures the amounts of various types of fats in your blood. These fats, or lipids, include cholesterol and triglycerides. In this article, we will guide you through interpreting your lipid profile and what the results mean for your health.
Cholesterol is a waxy substance found in all cells of the body. It's essential for making hormones, vitamin D, and substances that help you digest foods. Your body makes all the cholesterol it needs, but it is also obtained from animal-based foods. Cholesterol travels through the bloodstream in lipoproteins.
LDL cholesterol is often referred to as "bad" cholesterol. High levels of LDL can lead to the build-up of cholesterol in your arteries, increasing the risk of heart disease and stroke.
HDL cholesterol is known as "good" cholesterol. It carries cholesterol from other parts of your body back to your liver, which removes the cholesterol from your body. Higher levels of HDL cholesterol are associated with a lower risk of heart disease. An HDL level of 1.0mmol/L or higher is considered protective against heart disease.
Triglycerides are the most common type of fat in the body. They store excess energy from your diet. A high triglyceride level combined with low HDL cholesterol or high LDL cholesterol is associated with atherosclerosis, the build-up of fatty deposits in artery walls that increases the risk of heart attack and stroke. The ideal level for triglycerides is less than 2.0mmol/L.
Many factors influence what your personal cholesterol or lipid targets should be, and so cholesterol tests should be interpreted in the context of your personal risk. Your doctor can help you understand your results and guide you on strategies to not only lower your cholesterol but lower your risk of heart disease.
When you receive your lipid profile results, they will typically include your total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and triglycerides. The target for what your levels should be are different depending on your cardiovascular disease risk.
|
|
Those at High Risk |
General population |
|
Total Cholesterol |
<4.0 mmol/L |
<5.5 mmol/L |
|
Low Density Lipoprotein |
<1.8 mmol/L |
<2.0 mmol/L |
|
High Density Lipoprotein |
>1.0 mmol/L |
|
|
Triglycerides |
<2.0 mmol/L |
|
If your lipid profile shows high levels of LDL cholesterol or triglycerides, or low levels of HDL cholesterol, it's important to take steps to improve your lipid levels. Lifestyle changes such as eating a heart-healthy diet, exercising regularly, losing weight, quitting smoking, and limiting alcohol can help improve your lipid profile. In some cases, medication may also be necessary.
Regular lipid profile testing is important to monitor your heart health, especially if you have risk factors for heart disease like high blood pressure, smoking, or a family history of heart disease. Adults should have their cholesterol checked every 5 years from the age of 45, according to the Heart Foundation. For aboriginal or Torres Strait islanders, testing should start earlier at the age of 35.