Understanding your heart-health blood tests
A lipid panel measures different types of fats circulating in your bloodstream. Doctors evaluate total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, and triglycerides together because they give a combined picture of your cardiovascular health. Reviewing these markers side by side helps your healthcare provider understand how your body carries, uses, and stores fats.
Which tests are included, and what does each result mean?
Related food and reference pages
Frequently asked questions
- Why are all these cholesterol tests ordered together?
- Different blood fats carry out distinct roles, from supplying energy to clearing excess buildup. Looking at them as a single group gives your doctor a complete view of how fats circulate in your body.
- What is the difference between LDL and HDL cholesterol?
- LDL delivers cholesterol to your tissues, while HDL helps collect excess cholesterol and carry it back to your liver. Evaluating both helps show how well your body balances this process.
- What do triglycerides show compared to cholesterol?
- Triglycerides measure stored energy from food that circulates in your blood, while cholesterol is used to build cells and hormones. Tracking both helps your doctor assess overall metabolic and heart wellness.
- Do you need to fast before a lipid profile test?
- Recent meals can temporarily change fat levels in your blood, especially triglycerides. Your doctor or testing lab will let you know if fasting is needed before your blood draw.
Understand your own report
Upload your lab report and ReadMyReport explains every value in plain words — with reference ranges and questions to ask your doctor.
Upload your report