A Cardiac Lipid/Cholesterol Panel measures the lipids that are recommended by the National Cholesterol Education Program to determine your risk of having a heart attack or stroke. Total cholesterol is made up of HDL, or "good cholesterol," which decreases your risk for heart disease, and LDL, or "bad cholesterol," which increases your risk. Cholesterol-lowering drugs, known as statins, work to decrease LDL and increase HDL. Triglycerides are now considered a risk factor for heart disease. The most recent treatment guidelines recommend lowering triglyceride levels in the blood.
Test Requirements
- A fasting blood sample is needed.
Preparation for Your Test
- Do not eat or drink anything but water for 8 hours prior to your test.
- Wear a short sleeved shirt or a shirt with sleeves that roll up easily.
Review the Disclaimer and complete the Consent Form and bring it with you. These forms are available as printable PDF files using Adobe Acrobat. If you do not already have an Adobe Acrobat Reader, download a free copy now from Adobe Acrobat.
For detailed information regarding this lab test visit http://www.labtestsonline.org/.