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A coronary risk profile is a group of blood tests used to measure your cholesterol and triglyceride levels. The profile can help determine your risk for heart disease.
Cholesterol is a soft, wax-like substance found in all parts of the body. Your body needs a little bit of cholesterol to work properly. But too much cholesterol can clog your arteries and lead to Heart disease, stroke, and other problems.
Some types of cholesterol are considered "good" and some are considered "bad." Different blood tests are needed to measure each type of cholesterol.
Alternative NamesLipoprotein/cholesterol analysis; Lipid profile; Lipid panel; Hyperlipidemia - testing; Coronary risk profile
How the test is performedA blood sample is needed. For information on how this is done, see: Venipuncture.
Your doctor may order only a cholesterol level as the first test, which will measure cholesterol and HDL cholesterol levels. You may not need more cholesterol tests if your cholesterol is in the normal range.
You may also have a lipid (or coronary risk) profile, which includes:
- Low density lipoprotein (LDL or "bad" cholesterol)
- High density lipoprotein (HDL or "good" cholesterol)
- Total cholesterol
- Triglycerides
- Very low density lipoprotein (VLDL cholesterol, though this is often calculated from the triglyceride level)
People who also have high triglyceride levels may get a test called a direct LDL cholesterol (direct LDL-C).
Other blood tests, such as C-reactive protein (CRP), may be added to the profile in some laboratories.
How to prepare for the testOften, if you are only having a cholesterol level done, you can eat beforehand.
If you are having a lipid profile, you should not eat or drink anything except water 9 - 12 hours before having your blood drawn.
How the test will feelWhen the needle is inserted to draw blood, some people feel moderate pain, while others feel only a prick or stinging sensation. Afterward, there may be some throbbing.
Why the test is performedWhy the Test is Performed
Cholesterol blood tests are done to help you and your doctor better understand your risk for heart disease, stroke, and other problems caused by narrowed or blocked arteries.
A lipid profile may be done:
- To screen all adults and children for high blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels
- To screen adults or children who have Diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, or related problems
- To follow people who have had high cholesterol levels
ADULTS
Some national guidelines recommend having the first cholesterol test done at age 20. Everyone should have their first screening test by age 35 in men, and age 45 in women.
People who have diagnosed with diabetes, heart disease, stroke, or high blood pressure should always have a cholesterol test done, no matter what their age.
Follow-up testing should be done:
- Every 5 years if your results were normal
- More often (about every year) for people with diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, or blood flow problems to the legs or feet.
- Every year if you are taking medications to control high cholesterol.
CHILDREN
Not all experts agree on when to first check cholesterol levels in children.
- Some experts recommend only screening children who have risk factors, such as a family history of high cholesterol or a family history of heart attacks before age 55 in men, and before age 65 in women.
- Others recommend screening all children, but many experts feel there is not enough evidence to recommend for or against cholesterol screening in children.
The ideal values depend on whether you have heart disease or other risk factors. Your health care provider can tell you what your ideal results should be.
The desired values in most adults are:
- LDL cholesterol: lower than 130 mg/dL (lower numbers are desired)
- HDL cholesterol: greater than 40 - 60 mg/dL (higher numbers are desired)
- Total cholesterol: less than 200 mg/dL (lower numbers are desired)
- Triglycerides: 10 - 150 (lower numbers are desired)
- VLDL: 2 - 38
Talk to your health care provider about the ideal levels in children.
Note: mg/dL = milligrams per deciliter
Note: Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Talk to your doctor about the meaning of your specific test results.
The examples above show the common measurements for results for these tests. Some laboratories use different measurements or may test different specimens.
What abnormal results meanAbnormal values may be a sign that you are at increased risk for heart disease, stroke, and other problems caused by narrowed or blocked arteries.
Any active illness, such as a flare-up of Arthritis, can change your total cholesterol number. If you have had an illness in the 3 months before having this test, you should have this test repeated in 2 or 3 months.
See: High cholesterol to learn more about the causes of high cholesterol levels.
See also:
What the risks areVeins and arteries vary in size from one patient to another and from one side of the body to the other. Obtaining a blood sample from some people may be more difficult than from others.
Other risks associated with having blood drawn are slight but may include:
- Excessive bleeding
- Fainting or feeling light-headed
- Hematoma (blood accumulating under the skin)
- Infection (a slight risk any time the skin is broken)
Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults. Executive summary of the third report of the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) expert panel on detection, evaluation, and treatment of high blood cholesterol in adults (Adult Treatment Panel III). JAMA. 2001;285:2486-2497. Updated 2004.
Libby P. Lipoprotein disorders and cardiovascular disease. In: Bonow RO, Mann DL, Zipes DP, Libby P, eds. Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine. 9th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2011:chap 49.
Gennest J, Libby P. Lipoprotein disorders and cardiovascular disease. In: Bonow RO, Mann DL, Zipes DP, Libby P, eds. Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine. 9th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2011:chap 47.
U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Screening for lipid disorders in adults: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendation statement. Rockville (MD): Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ); 2008 Jun. Accessed May 20, 2011.
U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Screening for lipid disorders in children. U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendation statement. Rockville (MD): Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ); 2007 Jul. Accessed May 20, 2011.
Reviewed ByReview Date: 05/20/2011
David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
What else can I help you with?
What two test is included in the lipid panel?
The two main tests included in a lipid panel are cholesterol levels and triglyceride levels. Cholesterol is further broken down into HDL (high-density lipoprotein) and LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol. These tests are used to assess the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Why have I been advised not to eat meat for 12 hours before a blood test?
Avoiding meat before a blood test can help prevent inaccurate results for tests that assess cholesterol and triglyceride levels. The fats in meat can affect these readings, leading to potential misinterpretation of the test results by your healthcare provider.
Why can't you drink coffee before LDL Cholesterol and triglyceride tests?
I work in a lab and we always tell our patients that they can drink black coffee with no sugar and no cream. So yes you may have plain, black coffee. The cream and sugar from the coffee would falsely elevate your cholesterol.
Blood test fasting?
A fasting blood test is done after 8-12 hours of fasting (no food or drink other than water). This is done to get accurate readings of glucose, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels. It is important to follow your healthcare provider's instructions for fasting before a blood test to ensure accurate results.
What is the advantage of fasting before triglyceride blood test?
Fasting before a triglyceride blood test helps provide accurate results by ensuring that the levels are not affected by recent food intake. This is important because triglyceride levels can significantly increase after consuming a meal, especially one high in fat.
Are triglyceride cholesterol and saturated fats lipids?
YES
What are the three major lipid groups?
# Steroids # cholesterol # triglyceride
What type of fat stimulates the liver to produce more cholesterol which can lead to the depositing of cholesterol in the blood vessels?
Triglyceride
What test would you use to determine unknown food of lipids?
testing it and examining it with a microscope or filtering it with a filter
What is Morgan's starting cholesterol and triglyceride?
I'm sorry, but I don't have specific information about an individual named Morgan or their cholesterol and triglyceride levels. For accurate health information, it's best to refer to medical records or consult a healthcare professional.
What two test is included in the lipid panel?
The two main tests included in a lipid panel are cholesterol levels and triglyceride levels. Cholesterol is further broken down into HDL (high-density lipoprotein) and LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol. These tests are used to assess the risk of cardiovascular disease.
What does vldl cholesterol cal mean?
Very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) cholesterol is one of the three major types of lipoproteins. The other two are high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. Each type contains a mixture of cholesterol, protein and triglyceride, but in varying amounts.LDL contains the highest amount of cholesterol. HDL contains the highest amount of protein. VLDL contains the highest amount of triglyceride, a blood fat. Like LDL cholesterol, VLDL cholesterol is considered a type of "bad" cholesterol because elevated levels are associated with an increased risk of coronary artery disease.It is important to know your VLDL cholesterol level. However, there is no simple, direct way to measure VLDL cholesterol. So VLDL cholesterol is usually estimated as a percentage of your triglyceride value. A normal VLDL cholesterol level is between 5 and 40 milligrams per deciliter.By lowering your triglyceride levels, you also lower your VLDL cholesterol levels. Healthy lifestyle changes such as losing excess weight and exercising regularly can help lower triglyceride levels. Also, avoid sugary foods and alcohol, which have a particularly potent effect on increasing triglycerides.
Where can I find information on high triglyceride foods?
High triglyceride foods are very harmful because these are the foods that are known to raise a person's cholesterol and they can clog a person's arteries.
How do you recognize high triglyceride?
High triglycerides in themselves won't make you sick or cause you symptoms in most cases. You need a blood test and to consult with your doctor. In rare cases they can cause pancreatitis, but there are usually other problems present as well (such as high cholesterol.) Here's a page with a table of triglyceride ranges and more information: http://www.webmd.com/cholesterol-management/tc/high-triglycerides-symptoms
What is total blood cholesterol?
Total blood cholesterol is determined by adding your HDL (good cholesterol) and your LDL (bad cholesterol) together and then dividing your triglyceride number by 5 and adding that number to your HDL and LDL number which will give you the total cholesterol.
Is mackerel high in cholesterol?
Mackeral is a good source of "good" cholesterol. It will help you bring down your triglyceride level. 2 meals of mussels, tuna, salmon or mackeral will do your cholesterol numbers good.
What are some of the negative effects of having low triglyceride levels?
High triglyceride levels may lead to heart disease, especially in people with low levels of "good" cholesterol and high levels of "bad" cholesterol, and in people with type 2 diabetes. Experts disagree, though, on just how bad of an effect high triglyceride levels by themselves have on the heart.
