What is a Lipid Panel?
Lipids refer to the fats and cholesterol in your blood. A lipid panel is a set of blood tests that measure the different types of cholesterol, including HDL (good) cholesterol, LDL (bad) cholesterol, and triglycerides, as well as calculating cholesterol ratios.
What does it tell my medical provider?
A lipid panel can help identify your risk of heart disease and stroke.
Why should I get a Lipid Panel?
A lipid panel is one factor in determining your risk of developing cardiovascular disease, which is the leading cause of death worldwide. High levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol and triglycerides, as well as low levels of HDL cholesterol (good) cholesterol, are associated with an increased risk of developing heart disease and stroke.
Additionally, a lipid panel can detect certain genetic disorders that affect lipid metabolism, such as familial hypercholesterolemia, which can cause early-onset heart disease.
