During a routine physical, your doctor may take a blood sample for a "lipoprotein" profile. Understanding this profile is key to learning whether you're at high risk for heart disease.
A lipoprotein profile shows:
- Total cholesterol
- HDL (good) cholesterol
- LDL (bad) cholesterol
- Triglycerides (blood fats)
The American Heart Association recommends the following guidelines for cholesterol and triglyceride level for the general public:
- Total cholesterol < 200 mg/dL (anything above 200 mg/dL is considered higher risk)
- HDL cholesterol > 60 mg/dL (anything below 60 mg/dL is considered higher risk)
- LDL cholesterol < 100 mg/dL (anything above 100 mg/dL is considered higher risk)
- Triglycerides < 150 mg/dL (anything above 150 mg/dL is considered high risk)
For those at a higher risk, such as individuals who have sustained a heart attack, the guidelines were recently changed. The recommendation is for LDL levels to be below 70 mg/dL.
Based on your specific circumstances, your doctor can recommend diet and exercise changes, medication, or a combination of the two to control your cholesterol and triglyceride levels and lower your risk of heart disease.
