What is hdl in blood test

Having too many triglycerides in your blood can be harmful and lead to heart disease. Here are some natural ways to lower your triglycerides. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Medically reviewed by Judith Marcin, M. Why an HDL test is done. What are the risks? How should you prepare for an HDL test?

What to expect during the test. Read this next. Medically reviewed by Angelica Balingit, MD. Medically reviewed by Graham Rogers, M. What to Know About Familial Hypertriglyceridemia. Medically reviewed by Kevin Martinez, M. When you go to your primary care physician for a check-up, your doctor may want to do a blood draw to check your cholesterol, your blood count how many red and white blood cells and platelets you have circulating , and a basic metabolic or chemistry panel.

Find the right Healthy Driven doctor for you. Read More. If you have reached this screen, your current device or browser is unable to access the full Edward-Elmhurst Health Web site. Other names for a cholesterol test: Lipid profile, Lipid panel. What is it used for? The test measures: LDL levels.

Also known as the "bad" cholesterol, LDL is the main source of blockages in the arteries. HDL levels. Total cholesterol. The combined amount of low-density lipoprotein LDL cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein HDL cholesterol in your blood.

Triglycerides A type of fat found in your blood. According to some studies, high levels of triglycerides may increase the risk of heart disease, especially in women. VLDL levels. Very low-density lipoprotein VLDL is another type of "bad" cholesterol. Development of plaque on the arteries has been linked to high VLDL levels.

It's not easy to measure VLDL, so most of the time these levels are estimated based on triglyceride measurements. Why do I need a cholesterol test? Your doctor may order a cholesterol test as part of a routine exam, or if you have a family history of heart disease or one or more of the following risk factors: High blood pressure Type 2 diabetes Smoking Excess weight or obesity Lack of physical activity A diet high in saturated fat Your age may also be a factor, because your risk for heart disease increases as you get older.

What happens during a cholesterol test? Will I need to do anything to prepare for the test? Are there any risks to the test? What do the results mean? Is there anything else I need to know about my cholesterol levels? For HDL cholesterol, or "good" cholesterol, higher levels are better. High-density lipoprotein HDL cholesterol is known as the "good" cholesterol because it helps remove other forms of cholesterol from your bloodstream.

Higher levels of HDL cholesterol are associated with a lower risk of heart disease. Cholesterol is a waxy substance that's found in all of your cells and has several useful functions, including helping to build your body's cells. It's carried through your bloodstream attached to proteins.

These proteins are called lipoproteins. Medications known as statins — such as atorvastatin Lipitor and simvastatin Zocor — are the most common treatment for high LDL cholesterol. Cholesterol levels are measured in milligrams mg of cholesterol per deciliter dL of blood or millimoles mmol per liter L. When it comes to HDL cholesterol, higher numbers are better. To some extent, people who have naturally higher levels of HDL cholesterol are at lower risk of heart attack and stroke.

It's less clear whether that same benefit holds true for people who increase their HDL levels with medications. Lifestyle changes known to increase HDL, such as moving more, quitting smoking or improving your diet, have been shown to lower the risk of heart attacks, However, medications that specifically increase HDL levels have failed to reduce the rate of heart attacks.

This may be caused by genetic factors. HDL levels are typically lower in people who have metabolic syndrome — a cluster of conditions that include obesity, increased blood pressure and high blood sugar levels.

Besides helping you lose weight, increased physical activity can lower your triglycerides, the most common type of fat in your body, while increasing your HDL levels.

Benefits can be seen with as little as 60 minutes of moderate intensity aerobic exercise a week. Foods prepared with shortening, such as cakes and cookies, often contain trans fats, as do most fried foods and some margarines. Limit saturated fat, found in meats and full-fat dairy products, as well.

If you smoke, find a way to quit. Moderate use of alcohol has been linked with higher levels of HDL cholesterol. For healthy adults, that means up to one drink a day for women of all ages and men older than age 65, and up to two drinks a day for men age 65 and younger. However, if you don't drink, don't start drinking to raise your HDL cholesterol levels.

Too much alcohol can cause weight gain, and might increase your blood pressure and triglyceride levels. HDL levels are sometimes improved by drugs used to lower LDL and triglyceride levels — such as prescription niacin; fibrates such as gemfibrozil Lopid ; and certain statins, particularly simvastatin Zocor and rosuvastatin Crestor.