High Cholesterol : Tests

Tests to diagnose a lipid disorder may include: Lipoprotein test; Lipoprotein-a analysis; HDL test; LDL test.

Total serum cholesterol is the cholesterol most often measured and reported in medical office tests, home tests, and blood cholesterol screening clinics; people who quote their cholesterol level as high may be talking about a total cholesterol of ...

High cholesterol is often diagnosed and treated by general practitioners or family practice physicians. In some cases, the condition is treated by an endocrinologist or cardiologist. Total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, and triglyceride levels as well as ...

During a physical examination, a health care provider studies a patient's body to determine the presence or absence of physical problems. A typical physical examination includes: Inspection (looking at the body; Palpation (feeling the body with hands; Auscultation (listening to sounds; Percussion (producing sounds.

Lipid tests routinely performed on plasma include measurement of total cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. Lipid tests may also be performed on amniotic fluid and include tests for lecithin and other pulmonary surfactants.

Lipid tests are routinely performed on plasma, which is the liquid part of blood without the blood cells. Lipids themselves are a group of organic compounds that are greasy and cannot be dissolved in water, although they can be dissolved in alcohol. Lipid tests include measurements of total cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. Lipid tests may also be performed on amniotic fluid, which is the fluid that surrounds the fetus during pregnancy. Prenatal lipid tests include tests for lecithin and other pulmonary (lung) surfactants that cover the air spaces in the lungs with a thin film.

A lipid profile measures total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides. A physician may order a lipid profile as part of an annual exam or if there is specific concern about CVD, especially coronary artery disease. The National Cholesterol Education Program recommends that individuals age twenty and over have a fasting lipoprotein profile every HDL/LDL RATIO VALUES Risk level Men Women Very Low Risk 3.4 3.3 Low Risk 4.0 3.8 Average Risk 5.0 4.5 Moderate Risk 9.5 7.0 High Risk >23 >11 SOURCE : National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. five years. A lipid profile should be done after a nine- to twelve-hour fast without food, liquids, or medication. If fasting is not possible, the values for total cholesterol and HDL-C may still be useful. If total cholesterol is 200 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dl) or higher, or HDL-C is less than 40 mg/dl, the individual will need to have a follow-up lipoprotein profile done to determine LDL-C and triglyceride levels. Depending on the physician's request, the lipid profile may include the ratio of cholesterol to HDL. This ratio is sometimes used in place of total blood cholesterol. The ratio is obtained by dividing the HDL cholesterol level by the total cholesterol. For example, if a person has total cholesterol of 200 mg/dl and an HDL cholesterol level of 50 mg/dl, the ratio is 4:1. The goal is to keep the ratio below 5:1, and optimally at 3.5:1. There are several over-the-counter cholesterol measuring devices on the market, but none has been endorsed by any medical organizations.

A total cholesterol test is a rough measure of all the cholesterol and triglycerides in your blood. 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. Some cholesterol is considered "good" and some is considered "bad." Different blood tests are needed to individually measure each type of cholesterol. See also: HDL test ("good" cholesterol; LDL test ("bad" cholesterol; Lipid profile; High blood cholesterol and triglycerides.

The cholesterol test is a quantitative analysis of the cholesterol levels in a sample of the patient's blood. Total serum cholesterol (TC) is the measurement routinely taken. Doctors sometimes order a complete lipoprotein profile to better evaluate the risk for atherosclerosis ( coronary artery disease , or CAD). The full lipoprotein profile also includes measurements of triglyceride levels (a chemical compound that forms 95% of the fats and oils stored in animal or vegetable cells) and lipoproteins (high density and low density). Blood fats are also called "lipids." The type of cholesterol in the blood is as important as the total quantity. Cholesterol is a fatty substance and cannot be dissolved in water. It must combine with a protein molecule called a lipoprotein in order to be transported in the blood. There are five major types of lipoproteins in the human body; they differ in the amount of cholesterol that they carry in comparison to other fats and fatty acids, and in their functions in the body. Lipoproteins are classified, as follows, according to their density: Chylomicrons. These are normally found in the blood only after a person has eaten foods containing fats. They contain about 7% cholesterol. Chylomicrons transport fats and cholesterol from the intestine into the liver and then into the bloodstream. They are metabolized in the process of carrying food energy to muscle and fat cells. Very low-density lipoproteins (VLDL). These lipoproteins carry mostly triglycerides, but they also contain 16–22% cholesterol. VLDLs are made in the liver and eventually become IDL particles after they have lost their triglyceride content. Intermediate-density lipoproteins (IDL). IDLs are short-lived lipoproteins containing about 30% cholesterol that are converted in the liver to low-density lipoproteins (LDLs). Low-density lipoproteins (LDL). LDL molecules carry cholesterol from the liver to other body tissues. They contain about 50% cholesterol. Extra LDLs are absorbed by the liver and their cholesterol is excreted into the bile. LDL particles are involved in the formation of plaques (abnormal deposits of cholesterol) in the walls of the coronary arteries. LDL is known as "bad cholesterol." High-density lipoproteins (HDL). HDL molecules are made in the intestines and the liver. HDLs are about 50% protein and 19% cholesterol. They help to remove cholesterol from artery walls. Lifestyle changes, including exercising, keeping weight within recommended limits, and giving up smoking can increase the body's levels of HDL cholesterol. HDL is known as "good cholesterol." Because of the difference in density and cholesterol content of lipoproteins, two patients with the same total cholesterol level can have very different lipid profiles and different risk for CAD. The critical factor is the level of HDL cholesterol in the blood serum. Some doctors use the ratio of the total cholesterol level to HDL cholesterol when assessing the patient's degree of risk. A low TC/HDL ratio is associated with a lower degree of risk.

The number of cholesterol tests has proliferated, but for most people, the traditional fasting cholesterol is still the way to go.

HDL stands for high density lipoprotein, a form of "good" cholesterol. Lipoproteins are made of fat and protein. They carry cholesterol, triglycerides, and other fats, called lipids, in the blood to various parts of the body. This article discusses the blood test used to measure levels of HDL cholesterol in your blood. See also: LDL test ("bad" cholesterol; Lipid profile; High blood cholesterol and triglycerides; Total cholesterol test.

The triglyceride level is a laboratory test to measure the amount of triglycerides in your blood. Triglycerides are a type of fat. Your body makes some triglycerides. Triglycerides also come from the food you eat. When you eat, your body uses calories for immediate energy. Leftover calories are turned into triglycerides and stored in fat cells for later use. If you eat more calories than your body needs, your triglyceride level may be high. See also: Low density lipoprotein test; High density lipoprotein test; High blood cholesterol and triglycerides; Total cholesterol test.

The LDL test measures how much low-density lipoprotein (LDL) you have in your blood. LDL is a type of cholesterol. Too much LDL in the blood can clog arteries. See also: High-density lipoprotein (HDL) test; Total cholesterol test; High blood cholesterol and triglycerides.

A lipid profile test measures the lipids in the bloodstream most associated with risk of atherosclerosis. Lipids measured with this test include total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and triglycerides. Originally, this was done by a lengthy ultracentrifugation of serum or plasma, which created zones of particles with different densities. More recently the process has been automated using rapid enzymatic processes that measure total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and triglycerides. In the fasting state, one can then use the Friedwald formula to calculate LDL cholesterol: LDL cholesterol = total cholesterol–HDL cholesterol–triglycerides. The ratio of total cholesterol divided by HDL cholesterol is used to predict the risk of coronary heart disease. D ONALD A. S MITH ( SEE ALSO : Atherosclerosis ; Blood Lipids ; Cholesterol Test ; HDL Cholesterol ; LDL Cholesterol ; Triglycerides ; VLDL Cholesterol )