Do you smoke cigarettes? Are you overweight or obese? Do you eat unhe althy fast food out in a hurry and don't have time for physical activity? Make a lipidogram, or lipid profile. This simple test will tell you a lot about your he alth - it will detect abnormal levels of cholesterol, its HDL and LDL fractions, and triglycerides.

Lipidogram - what is it?

Lipidogram , which is what we havecholesteroland triglyceride levels, is an extremely important test. On its basis, it is possible to determine the risk of atherosclerosis and, consequently, coronary heart disease, heart attack or ischemic strokes. A small blood sample taken from a vein is enough to check the lipid profile.

Lipidogram - what is this test?

Cholesterol is a fatty compound that is essential for life. It is a component of cell membranes, participates, for example, in the production of certain hormones, bile juices and vitamin D.

Our body gets it from food and from our own tissues (mainly produced by the liver and ileum). It's okay as long as your cholesterol is kept at the right level (see box). If there is too much of it, it starts to "grow" on the inside of the blood vessels, which can cause atherosclerosis.

The level of HDL (High Density Lipoproteins - high-density lipoproteins, colloquially good cholesterol) and LDL (Low Density Lipoproteins - particles of low density, the so-called bad cholesterol) are tested to find out about the risk scale.

A high LDL level means that too much cholesterol is deposited in the walls of your arteries. It is different with HDL, which carries excess cholesterol from the cells to the liver. If there is a lot of it, it is anti-atherosclerotic.

Lipidogram - examination

  • blood must be drawn on an empty stomach, 12-14 hours after the last meal.
  • control lipid profile testing is repeated no sooner than approx. 4 weeks after the treatment.

Blood cholesterol levels are higher in men, the elderly, and those who eat high-calorie foods and avoid exercise.

Important

Lipidogram - standards

  • total cholesterol - 200 mg% (5.2 mmol / L) or less
  • LDL cholesterol - less than 139 mg% (3.4 mmol / L)
  • HDL cholesterol - over 35 mg% (0.92 mmol / L)
  • triglycerides - below200 mg% (2.3 mmol / l), preferably 50-180 mg%

What to do if the lipid profile is incorrect?

Incorrect lipid profile requires diet modification. The doctor will determine it so that fats constitute only 30 percent. energy supplied. The type of fat is also important. The one derived from meat, dairy products and eggs must be very limited, because it has a negative effect on the lipid profile.

Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids contained in fish and some plants are beneficial. In special cases, the doctor may also recommend special pharmacological treatment.

What increases the level of good cholesterol?

The level of good HDL is increased by:

  • physical activity,
  • moderate (!) Alcohol consumption,
  • estrogens.

What reduces the level of good cholesterol?

Good HDL level decreases:

  • smoking,
  • obesity,
  • no traffic,
  • taking steroid drugs.

No less important is the level of triglycerides (molecules made of fatty acids and glycerol), which are the body's energy reserve. If it is too high, it indicates a disturbance in the fat management.

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