
Lipid panel
A Lipid panel also commonly termed as cholesterol panel or lipid profile is a blood test that can measure the amount of cholesterol and triglycerides in your blood.
A cholesterol test can help determine your risk of the buildup of fatty deposits (plaques) in your arteries that can lead to narrowed or blocked arteries throughout your body (atherosclerosis).
A cholesterol test is an important tool. High cholesterol levels often are a significant risk factor for coronary artery disease. High cholesterol usually causes no signs or symptoms.
A complete cholesterol test includes the calculation of four types of fats in your blood:
Who should get a cholesterol test?
According to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI), a person’s first cholesterol screening should occur between the ages of 9 and 11 and then be repeated every five years after that.
The NHLBI recommends that cholesterol screenings occur every 1 to 2 years for men ages 45 to 65 and for women ages 55 to 65. People over 65 should receive cholesterol tests annually.
More-frequent testing might be needed if your initial test results were abnormal or if you already have coronary artery disease, you’re taking cholesterol-lowering medications or you’re at higher risk of coronary artery disease because you:
People undergoing treatment for high cholesterol require regular cholesterol testing to monitor the
effectiveness of their treatments.