What is a lipid profile?
A lipid profile, also known as a lipid panel, is a common blood test done by your healthcare provider that provides valuable insights into your cardiovascular health, as it helps monitor and screen for your risk of cardiovascular disease.
This comprehensive test measures the amount of fat molecules (lipids) in your blood, offering a detailed picture of your heart disease risk. Having too many lipids in your blood can lead to a fatty substance building up in your arteries, causing them to narrow, increasing your risk of cardiovascular disease.
What does a lipid profile measure?
Usually, the panel includes four different cholesterol measurements and a measurement of your triglycerides. A standard lipid profile typically includes measurements of:
1) Total cholesterol
Measures the overall amount of cholesterol in your blood: a combination of LDL-C (low-density lipoprotein cholesterol), VLDL-C (very-low-density lipoprotein cholesterol) and HDL-C (high-density lipoprotein).
2) Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL)
Often called "bad cholesterol", high levels can lead to arterial buildup. Such cholesterol can collect in your blood vessels and increase your risk of cardiovascular disease.
3) High-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL)
Known as "good cholesterol", it helps remove excess cholesterol from the bloodstream. This helps decrease the buildup of LDL in your blood vessels.
4) Very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL)
This lipid is a type of cholesterol that comes from food that you have recently eaten. It is usually present in low amounts when you have a fasting blood panel. An increase in this type of cholesterol in a fasting sample may be a sign that your body is not processing cholesterol correctly.
5) Triglycerides
Triglycerides are a type of fat obtained from the foods that we eat. Excess triglyceride levels are associated with increased cardiovascular risk, cardiovascular disease and pancreatic inflammation.
What is a lipid panel used for?
Lipid profiles are essential for:
Assessing your risk of heart disease
Detecting genetic disorders affecting lipid metabolism
Monitoring the effectiveness of cholesterol-lowering treatments
Guiding lifestyle and dietary changes to improve heart health
Usually, your doctor may order a lipid profile as part of a routine test to check if your cholesterol levels are healthy or to monitor your current cholesterol levels if you previously obtained abnormal results.
If you have one or more risk factors for cardiovascular disease, your doctor may suggest frequent screenings with lipid profiles to catch elevated cholesterol levels.
How does a lipid profile blood test work?
The whole procedure usually takes less than 5 minutes. You can expect the following experience when you go for a blood test to check your lipid profile:
Your doctor will locate a vein and disinfect the area.
A needle will be inserted into the vein to take a blood sample (you may feel some slight discomfort during this moment).
A small amount of blood will be collected into a blood tube for further testing at a laboratory.
Once the test results are back, your doctor will schedule a follow-up appointment and share them with you. Usually, you can get the results of your lipid profile test after a few days.
Interested in getting a lipid panel done? Enquire here for more information on pricing and more.
How long to fast for lipid panel
You will need to fast for at least 10 to 12 hours before going for your blood test to check your lipid profile. Fasting involves not eating or drinking anything except for water. However, in some cases, it is possible to get a lipid profile test without fasting. However, you will need to ask your doctor in advance and follow the instructions they have given you. If you are taking medicines, herbs, vitamins, or health supplements, please let your doctor know as well.
If you’ve accidentally consumed food within the fasting window before your lipid profile, do inform your doctor, as this may skew your results.
Can I take the test at home?
Many lipid profile tests are done at a doctor's office, lab, medical clinic, or hospital. The test is usually ordered by your doctor. After being taken, your blood sample is sent to a laboratory for analysis, resulting in a detailed lipid profile report.
However, you can also take the test at home. You can prick your finger and put a small drop of blood on a special piece of paper/test strip. The test strip either changes colours or is analysed by a small machine to determine cholesterol levels. Even though at-home tests can indicate abnormal lipid levels, these at-home kits usually provide less information than the tests done at the doctor’s office. Thus, going for follow-up testing by your healthcare provider is often recommended afterwards for a more accurate result.
Normal and abnormal lipid profile ranges
The test results for your lipid profile will usually include information on what was measured in your blood, and the expected measurement range for that test.
Below are the expected ranges for each category:
Total cholesterol: Below 200 mg/dL
LDL cholesterol: Below 100 mg/dL (lower for those with diabetes)
HDL cholesterol: Above 60 mg/dL
Triglycerides: Below 150 mg/dL
If your results are higher or lower than the target range above, they may be classified as borderline, intermediate, or high risk for cardiovascular issues. Generally, elevated levels of total cholesterol, LDL, and triglycerides, along with reduced HDL levels, can contribute to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.
However, these values should be assessed in relation to your overall health and other risk factors. Moreover, certain medicines, pregnancy, infection, and some medical conditions can affect test results. If your lipid profile testing is abnormal, your provider may recommend lifestyle changes, cholesterol-lowering medicine, or continued monitoring of your blood lipid levels.
How to lower cholesterol?
High levels of lipids (fats) in the blood, including cholesterol and triglycerides, is known as the condition called "hyperlipidaemia". Hyperlipidaemia can significantly increase a person's risk of heart attacks, strokes, and other serious problems due to fatty deposits building up on blood vessel walls, leading to blood vessel wall narrowing or obstruction. This may lead to elevated blood pressure and a higher risk of cardiovascular diseases.
Natural ways to lower your cholesterol levels
Exercising
Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise weekly.
Quitting smoking
Quitting smoking helps increase the level of HDL cholesterol.
Sleeping at least seven hours each night
This helps maintain balanced hormone levels and prevents the overproduction of stress hormones, which can negatively impact cholesterol metabolism.
Keeping your stress level well managed
Increased stress hormones can increase the risk of high cholesterol and heart disease.
Eating healthier foods
Follow a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean proteins; reduce your intake of saturated fats and trans fats.
Limiting how much alcohol you drink
Cutting down alcohol helps lower cholesterol levels by improving liver functions and reducing triglycerides.
Losing a few pounds to reach a healthy weight
Losing weight lowers cholesterol by reducing the amount of body fat, which overall decreases the production of bad LDL cholesterol while increasing good HDL cholesterol.
Want to learn more about how to manage your cholesterol levels? Request an appointment with our specialists at Thomson Medical today for a personalised healthcare plan.
What medications are used for hyperlipidaemia?
People who need medicine to treat their high cholesterol usually take statins. Statins are a type of medication that decreases how much LDL (bad cholesterol) is circulating in your blood.
Your provider may order a different type of medicine if:
You can’t take a statin.
You need another medicine in addition to a statin.
You have familial hypercholesterolaemia, a genetic problem that makes your bad cholesterol or LDL levels extremely high.
How often should I get a lipid profile?
For healthy adults with no cardiovascular risk factors, lipid profile screening is recommended once every five years. However, more frequent testing may be necessary for individuals with existing risk factors or those on lipid-lowering medications.
Understanding your lipid profile is a crucial step in maintaining heart health. Regular monitoring, coupled with appropriate lifestyle changes and medical interventions when necessary, can significantly reduce your risk of cardiovascular diseases. Always consult your healthcare provider to interpret your results and determine the best course of action for your individual health needs.
FAQ
How common is hyperlipidaemia?
According to the latest National Population Health Survey (NPHS) in Singapore, hyperlipidaemia, or high blood cholesterol, affects around 31.9% of the population, showing a decrease from 39.1% in 2020, indicating that while still prevalent, the rate is declining among Singaporeans.
What are some risk factors for heart disease?
Risk factors include:
High blood cholesterol levels
Smoking
Obesity
Not getting enough physical activity
High blood pressure
Diabetes
History of a family member developing heart disease
Are there any risks involved with taking a blood test for a lipid profile?
There is little risk involved with having your blood sample taken. Veins and arteries vary in size from one person to another and from one side of the body to the other. Taking blood from some people may be more difficult than from others. Drinking sufficient plain water before the blood test can make blood drawing easier, as your veins would be fuller, making the process smoother.
What other tests might I have along with this test?
Your healthcare provider may also order other tests to look at how well your heart is working. These tests may include:
Electrocardiogram, or ECG, which tests your heart's electrical impulses to see if it is beating normally
Stress test, in which you may have to exercise while being monitored by ECG
Echocardiogram, which uses sound waves to make pictures of your heart
Cardiac catheterisation. For this test, a healthcare provider puts a tube into your blood vessels and injects dye. X-rays are then done to look for clogs in the arteries of the heart
Your provider may also order tests for high blood pressure or blood sugar, or glucose.
How can I lower my lipids quickly?
A few changes in your diet, such as eating healthier foods, can reduce cholesterol and improve your heart health.
Increasing your exercise toat least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity per week improve cholesterol levels
Quitting smoking improves your HDL cholesterol level.
Lose weight.
Drink alcohol in moderation.
What are the worst foods for high cholesterol?
The worst foods for high cholesterol, given their high saturated fat content, include:
Red meat, like beef, pork, and lamb, as well as processed meats like sausage.
Full-fat dairy, like cream, whole milk, and butter.
Baked goods and sweets.
Fried foods.
Tropical oils such as palm oil and coconut oil.
Butter.
Can stress cause high cholesterol?
Yes. Stress triggers hormonal changes that cause your body to produce cholesterol, leading to elevated cholesterol levels. Learn how to better manage your stress levels here.
The information provided is intended for general guidance only and should not be considered medical advice. For personalised recommendations and tailored advice, please consult a specialist at Thomson Medical. Request an appointment with Thomson Medical today.
For more information, contact us:
Thomson Specialists Paragon (Health Screening)
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