Triglyceride and Cholesterol Test

A routine triglyceride and cholesterol test is now recommended for everyone. Elevated levels of cholesterol and triglycerides are important risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Furthermore, numerous clinical studies have now shown that for many individuals, treating elevated cholesterol and triglyceride levels can significantly improve outcomes.

• Read about cholesterol and triglycerides.

Who Should Get a Triglyceride and Cholesterol Test, and When?

Current guidelines recommend that you should be tested for cholesterol and triglyceride levels beginning at age 20, and every five years thereafter. And, if you are found to have elevated cholesterol or triglycerides, you should be tested yearly. In some cases, younger people -- and even children -- ought to be tested.

• Read about cholesterol testing in children.

How Is the Triglyceride and Cholesterol Test Done?

The test for cholesterol and triglycerides -- a test which is often called the "lipid panel" -- consists of a simple blood test, which can be done with the small amount of blood obtained by a needle prick. The only preparation required on your part is to refrain from eating anything, and from drinking any liquids aside from water, for eight to 12 hours prior to the test. If you are on prescription medication, talk to your doctor about whether you should take your pills before the test.

What Do They Measure?

Typically, the lipid panel gives four values:

• Total cholesterol level
• LDL cholesterol level
• HDL cholesterol level
• Triglyceride level

• Read here about the different kinds of cholesterol, and what they mean.

• Read more about cholesterol and triglyceride testing.

What Are "Desirable" Cholesterol and Triglyceride Levels?

Total cholesterol: Desirable blood levels for total cholesterol are below 200 mg/dL. Levels between 200 and 239 are considered "borderline." Levels above 240 are considered "high."

LDL cholesterol: Optimal LDL levels are less than 100 mg/dL. Near optimal levels are between 100 and 129. Levels between 130 and 159 are considered "borderline;" levels between 160 and 189 are considered "high;" and levels of 190 and above are considered "very high."

HDL cholesterol: In general, the higher the HDL cholesterol levels the better. HDL levels below 41 mg/dL are considered too low.

Triglycerides: Desirable blood levels for triglycerides are less than 150 mg/Dl. Levels between 150 and 199 are considered "borderline high." Levels between 200 and 499 are considered "high." Triglyceride levels at 500 mg/Dl or greater are considered "very high."

• Here is some on-line help for interpreting your LDL cholesterol test result.

• Here is some on-line help for interpreting your HDL cholesterol test result.

When Should You Be Treated For Cholesterol or Triglycerides?

Deciding on whether you ought to be treated for high cholesterol or high triglyceride levels, whether that treatment ought to include drug therapy, and which drugs ought to be used, is not always entirely straightforward. Still, if your cardiovascular risk is elevated, aggressive treatment aimed at your lipid levels can substantially reduce your chances of having a heart attack, or even of dying prematurely. So when it comes to treating cholesterol and triglycerides, it is important to get it right.

• Read about deciding whether treatment for cholesterol is necessary.

• Read about deciding on the best cholesterol treatment.

• Read about treating high triglyceride levels.

• Read about increasing your HDL cholesterol levels.

_Sources:

_{Third report of the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) Expert Panel on detection, evaluation, and treatment of high blood cholesterol in adults (Adult Treatment Panel III). Circulation 2002; 106:3143.}

_{Grundy SM, Cleeman JI, Bairey Merz CN, et al. Implications of recent clinical trials for the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III guidelines. Circulation. 2004;110:227-239.}