Understanding Your Lipid Profile: A Complete Guide

A lipid profile is one of the most important tests for assessing heart disease risk. Yet many people receive their results without truly understanding what the numbers mean.

What Does a Lipid Profile Measure?

• Total Cholesterol: Overall cholesterol level (ideal: below 200 mg/dL)
• LDL (Bad Cholesterol): Builds up in artery walls (ideal: below 100 mg/dL)
• HDL (Good Cholesterol): Helps remove bad cholesterol (ideal: above 60 mg/dL)
• Triglycerides: Fat from food stored in blood (ideal: below 150 mg/dL)
• VLDL: Very low-density lipoprotein (ideal: below 30 mg/dL)

Why Your Ratios Matter

More than individual numbers, doctors look at ratios:

• Total Cholesterol/HDL ratio (ideal: below 4.5)
• LDL/HDL ratio (ideal: below 2.5)

These ratios better predict cardiovascular risk than any single value.

Who Should Get Tested?

• All adults over 20 (at least every 5 years)
• Annually if over 40 or with risk factors
• More frequently if managing high cholesterol
• People with family history of heart disease

Improving Your Lipid Profile

• Reduce saturated fats and trans fats
• Increase fibre intake (oats, fruits, legumes)
• Exercise regularly (30 minutes daily)
• Quit smoking and limit alcohol
• Consider medication if lifestyle changes aren't enough

A lipid profile is included in all ADC health packages. Book your test at Aarvak Diagnostics and take control of your heart health.