What It Measures#
A Lipid Profile (also called a lipid panel or cholesterol test) measures the levels of fats and fat-like substances in your blood. The standard panel includes:
- Total Cholesterol, overall cholesterol in your blood.
- LDL Cholesterol ("bad" cholesterol), builds up in artery walls and increases heart disease risk.
- HDL Cholesterol ("good" cholesterol), helps remove LDL from your arteries.
- Triglycerides, the most common type of fat stored in your body; high levels raise cardiovascular risk.
- VLDL Cholesterol, carries triglycerides; elevated levels contribute to plaque formation.
Indians have a higher genetic predisposition to dyslipidaemia, making this test especially important for early detection and prevention of heart attacks and strokes.
Who Should Get Tested#
- All adults above 20 years, at least once every 5 years (American Heart Association guideline).
- Adults above 35 (men) or 45 (women), annually.
- People with diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, or a family history of heart disease, every 6–12 months.
- Smokers and those with sedentary lifestyles.
- Patients already on statin therapy, to monitor treatment response.
How to Prepare#
- Fast for 10–12 hours before the test (water is allowed).
- Avoid alcohol for at least 24 hours before the blood draw.
- Take your regular medications unless your doctor advises otherwise.
- Avoid a high-fat meal the night before, as it can temporarily spike triglycerides.
Understanding Your Results#
| Parameter | Desirable (mg/dL) | Borderline | High Risk | |-----------|--------------------|------------|-----------| | Total Cholesterol | < 200 | 200–239 | ≥ 240 | | LDL Cholesterol | < 100 | 100–159 | ≥ 160 | | HDL Cholesterol | > 40 (M), > 50 (F) |, | < 40 | | Triglycerides | < 150 | 150–199 | ≥ 200 |
For Indians, cardiologists often recommend stricter LDL targets (< 100 mg/dL for moderate risk, < 70 mg/dL for high risk) because of the elevated baseline cardiovascular risk in the South-Asian population.
Lifestyle changes: a cholesterol-lowering diet, regular exercise, and weight management, are first-line interventions. Statins are prescribed when lifestyle measures alone are insufficient.
Related Tests#
- Blood Sugar Fasting. Diabetes is a major cardiovascular risk factor.
- CRP Test: measures vascular inflammation.
- HbA1c Test: long-term blood sugar control.
- Liver Function Test, important baseline before starting statins.
Booking & Home Collection#
Book your lipid profile on PingMeDoc with convenient early-morning home collection (fasting-friendly slots from 6:30 AM). Reports are delivered digitally within 12–24 hours.