What it means
A group of tests used to judge the risk of heart disease and stroke and to follow treatment such as statins. LDL ("bad") cholesterol builds up in artery walls; HDL ("good") cholesterol helps remove it; triglyceridestry-GLIS-er-idesThe main type of fat in the blood and in body fat, measured in a lipid panel.Full entry are fats that rise after meals and with high sugar and alcohol intake.
For the nurse
If fasting is ordered, the client usually has only water for 9 to 12 hours before the test.
Remember it
HDL is Healthy (keep it High); LDL is Lousy (keep it Low).
At a glance
| Normal range | Total cholesterol below 200 mg/dL [below 5.2 mmol/L]; LDL below 100 mg/dL [below 2.6 mmol/L]; HDL 40 mg/dL or higher [1.0 mmol/L or higher]; triglycerides below 150 mg/dL [below 1.7 mmol/L]. Targets vary with each person's risk. |
|---|---|
| Also written | fasting lipid panel, lipid profile, lipid profiles |
Related terms
lipid
A fat or fat-like substance in the body or food, such as cholesterol and triglycerides.
triglycerides
The main type of fat in the blood and in body fat, measured in a lipid panel.
cholesterol
A waxy fat made by the liver and found in animal foods, which the body uses to build cells and hormones.
statin
A drug that lowers cholesterol by blocking an enzyme the liver uses to make it.