LIPID PANEL

‘Lipids’ is a medical term used to describe fat found in the blood stream. There are two types of lipids; Cholesterol and Triglycerides:
Cholesterol- is a waxy substance that provides your body with energy and is used to make hormones and bile acids necessary for the digestion of food. Cholesterol is made naturally by the body and some comes from the foods we eat. While your body needs cholesterol to function properly, too much cholesterol can cause plaque to build up in the arteries, increasing the likelihood of heart disease, heart attack and stroke.
Cholesterol is made of lipoproteins. Two main types of lipoproteins carry cholesterol”
1. LDL-this kind of cholesterol is known as the ‘bad cholesterol’ because it carries cholesterol to tissues, including the arteries. The LDL is the amount of cholesterol fat circulating in your blood.
2. HDL- this cholesterol is known as the ‘good cholesterol’ because it works to remove the ‘bad’ cholesterol from your body. The higher your HDL level, the more ‘bad’ cholesterol your body can remove.

Triglycerides –Triglycerides are another type of fat found in the blood stream and fat tissues. When triglyceride levels rise too high, it contributes to narrowing and hardening of the arteries. When this happens you become more susceptible to heart attacks and stroke. People with Diabetes, alcoholism, kidney failure, or obesity often have high triglyceride levels. Normal triglyceride levels are typically under 150, with high levels being over 200.
The only way to know for certain what your lipid levels are is to have a lipid panel performed by your local laboratory. Don’t wait until it becomes a lasting problem.

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