Coronary Screen with Lipid Panel Cholesterol

Why is this test important? Getting a cholesterol (coronary screen/lipid panel) is one of the most important tests to gauge your cardiovascular health. A cholesterol (coronary screen/lipid panel) measures the amount of fatty substances found in your bloodstream. These fatty substances lead to heart disease, heart attack, and stroke.

A coronary screen/lipid panel will measure the total cholesterol found in your blood. Cholesterol is the fatty, wax-like substance that is used to make cells, hormones, vitamin D, and bile acids that digest fat. Your body makes all the cholesterol you need--but the foods you eat also have cholesterol. Heredity factors, weight, age, sex, exercise, and stress can affect your levels.

The National Institute of Health had defined total cholesterol figures. These numbers will help you and your doctor better understand your coronary screen/lipid panel.

• If your total cholesterol is less than 200 mg/dL (milligrams per deciliter of blood), your risk of heart disease is low.
• If your total cholesterol is 200 to 239 mg/dL, then it is borderline line. Risk of heart disease increases if your cholesterol level is in this range
• If you have high cholesterol, your total will be 240 mg/dL and higher. This doubles your risk of heart disease.

Total cholesterol is the cornerstone of any coronary screen/lipid panel.

A coronary screen/lipid panel also measures the "good" cholesterol, HDL. Higher HDL levels are found in the lipid profiles of individuals who exercise, eat healthy, and don't smoke. With HDL cholesterol, higher is better.

A healthy coronary screen/lipid panel will show LDL cholesterol at 100 mg/DL or less. Anything over 130 mg/DL is considered high. Check your coronary screen/lipid panel carefully to check your HDL and LDL levels.

A HealthCheckUSA coronary screen/lipid panel will also measure triglycerides--another form of fat. Triglycerides come from foods like vegetable oils and animal fats. A coronary screen/lipid panel that has high triglyceride levels should be cause for concern. A normal triglyceride level is less than 150 mg/DL. Levels 150 mg/DL or higher are considered high, and an immediate change in diet, along with cardiovascular exercise, should be considered.

What does the test include? This test includes total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (good) cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (bad) cholesterol, HDL/LDL ratios, and triglycerides.