Cholesterol is essential but can raise heart disease risk when levels are high. Understand LDL, HDL and triglycerides, common total-cholesterol categories, major risk factors, and practical steps to lower risk.
A concise guide to the four lipid panel values - total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, and triglycerides - current target ranges, and how clinicians use these numbers to manage heart-disease risk.
A lipid profile is a set of blood tests (total cholesterol, LDL-C, HDL-C, triglycerides, and non-HDL) used to assess cardiovascular risk and guide lifestyle or medication decisions. Interpretation depends on overall ASCVD risk and current guideline-based targets.
A Complete Lipid Profile measures total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, and triglycerides. Modern care uses these results plus your overall cardiovascular risk to guide lifestyle steps and, when needed, statin therapy.