A lipid profile is a test to check the levels of different types of fats in your blood. It is used to check cholesterol and triglycerides, the major fat types found in the blood.
Any of these fat levels can be abnormal. If your Doctor has advised you to get your lipid profile checked, it is because excessive fat levels in your blood can cause many cardiovascular or heart diseases. For example, cholesterol can clog your arteries, leading to heart disease and stroke.
How bad is my lipid profile?
| Type | Total Cholesterol level | LDL cholesterol level | HDL Cholesterol level |
| Normal | Less than 200 mg/dL | Less than 100mg/dL or 100-129 mg/dL | 60 mg/dL and higher |
| Mildly abnormal | 200 – 300 mg/dL | – | – |
| Moderately abnormal | 300 – 400 mg/dL | – | – |
| Severely abnormal | 400 mg/dL or higher |
How should I prepare for the test?
Your doctor or nurse in a medical facility does the lipid profile test on an empty stomach. It is important for you not to eat anything for 9–12 hours before the test. The test procedure involves applying aseptic at the area from where blood is taken. The needle is inserted into a vein, and the blood is taken. Usually, no side effects or abnormal medical reactions are reported.
I have a normal lipid profile. Now what?
Great job! Congrats on getting a normal test result. Now keep up the winning steak by doing these things:
- Eat a nutritional diet to reduce or avoid foods high in saturated fat and cholesterol
- Loose excessive weight after talking to your Doctor
- Stay physically active by taking regular exercise
(Talk to your provider before making any major changes in your diet or exercise routine)
How to treat mildly abnormal lipid profile?
Follow the guidance for the normal lipid profile section above. Your Doctor may also start you on a medication to treat mildly abnormal lipid profiles. Use myAnkr portal or the Ankr app and save your side effect as “Mild” to notify your clinic team if they are using the Ankr platform.
How to treat moderately abnormal lipid profile?
Follow the guidance for the normal lipid profile section above. Your Doctor will start you on one or more medications to treat a moderately abnormal lipid profile. You may need a higher dose or a second medication if you are already on medication. You may need to visit the Doctor if abnormal symptoms develop.
How to treat severely abnormal lipid profiles?
Seek immediate medical care for a severely abnormal lipid profile. Use myAnkr portal or the Ankr app and save your side effect as “Severe” to get help from your clinic team if they are using the Ankr platform.
You will almost certainly need one or more medications to manage a severely abnormal lipid profile.
Visit your doctor if you notice any of these symptoms:
- New or uncontrolled high blood pressure
- Chest Pain when doing physical activity or resting
- Stroke-like symptoms (weakness or numbness of any body part)
What causes an abnormal lipid profile?
- Family history
- Obesity
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Bad eating habits
- Type II Diabetes
- Menopause (in women)
- Low levels of estrogen (in women)
How can Ankr help if you have an abnormal lipid profile?
Don’t try to treat it by yourself. Use Ankr to:
(1) learn about the common causes of the abnormality
(2) send a message to your Doctor if they use Ankr platform*
(3) be better informed about how to prevent the abnormality in future