Lipid Profile - Maxi Test

• Assessment of Cardiovascular Health: It provides crucial information about lipid levels in the blood, which is directly linked to heart health.

• Monitoring Treatment Effectiveness: For individuals undergoing lipid-lowering therapy, such as statins, the test helps monitor the effectiveness of the treatment in managing cholesterol levels.

• Identification of Familial Hypercholesterolemia (FH): FH is a genetic disorder characterized by high levels of LDL cholesterol. Lipid profile testing can help identify individuals at risk for FH.

• Evaluation of Atherosclerosis Risk: High levels of LDL cholesterol are associated with the buildup of plaque in the arteries, a condition known as atherosclerosis. Lipid profile testing aids in assessing this risk.

• Guiding Lifestyle Modifications: Results from the test can guide individuals in making lifestyle modifications such as dietary changes and increased physical activity to improve lipid profiles and reduce cardiovascular risk.

• Early Detection and Prevention: Regular lipid profile testing allows for the early detection of abnormal lipid levels, enabling timely intervention and prevention of cardiovascular disease.

The test measures the Cholesterol-Total, HDL, Non-HDL, LDL, VLDL and Triglycerides, Lp(a), and Apolipoproteins B/A levels in the blood.

A professional called a phlebotomist usually draws blood for the lipid panel. However, any healthcare specialist who knows how to draw blood can do a lipid test. Blood is drawn from the vein of your arm after cleaning the site of insertion. A band is wrapped around the upper arm to fill the blood into your veins. After inserting a needle, which may feel like a prick, the desired amount of blood will be collected in the syringe. You may experience slight tenderness at the point from where the blood has been taken. But it will usually resolve quickly.

Maintaining lipid levels within the desirable ranges helps lower risk of heart attacks and stroke.

• Low HDL levels (below acceptable levels) are associated with increased risk for Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease (ASCVD).
• High levels of Non-HDL Cholesterol (above acceptable levels) are associated with increased risk for Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular disease (ASCVD).
• High lipoprotein (a) levels lead to cholesterol being deposited in the arterial walls which causes thickening or clogging of the arterial walls also known as ""atherosclerosis"". This disrupts the flow of blood to the heart and other vital organs. This increases the risk of heart diseases, strokes, and other peripheral arterial diseases.
• High B/A1 ratio increases the risk of heart diseases.
• Low ratio may reduce the risk of cardiac diseases and stroke.
• Apo-B/A1 ratio is a more specific test that gives a clearer picture of the risk of heart diseases as compared to routine cholesterol tests.

You need to fast for 10-12 hours in a lipid test. Fasting involves not eating or drinking anything except water. In some conditions, you can have a lipid test without fasting. Your healthcare will let you know whether you need fasting for the test.

Given below are the optimal levels of all four lipids covered in the lipid profile:

• Total cholesterol: Below 200 mg/dL
• HDL cholesterol: Above 60mg/dL
• LDL cholesterol: Below 100mg/dL
• Triglycerides: Below 150mg/dL

Based on your test result, your case can be considered borderline, intermediate, or high risk.

Some diseases like diabetes, kidney problems, hypothyroidism, and liver problems can increase your cholesterol levels.

You must follow good eating habits like consuming less saturated and trans fat. Eat fibres regularly, decrease the amount of concentrated sugar, reduce alcohol consumption, quit smoking, reduce weight, and increase physical activity.

People at high risk of having high cholesterol levels should go for this test. High-risk factors include high blood pressure, smoking, a history of heart attack, a sedentary lifestyle, diabetes etc. Men, 45 years of age or women between 50-55 years of age are also advised to take this test.

• Lipid panel
• Lipid test
• Coronary risk panel
• Cholesterol panel