Lipid Profile A Key Tool to Assess Heart Attack Risk; Learn How to Interpret It
Lipid Profile: A Key Tool to Assess Heart Attack Risk; Learn How to Interpret It
With the rising number of heart attack cases in recent years, it’s more important than ever to maintain a healthy diet, exercise regularly, and get preventive health screenings. Equally important is understanding how to read and interpret medical reports. Cardiologist Dr. Naveen Bhamri recently shared insights on social media about reading lipid profiles, emphasizing that knowing how to interpret these results is essential for evaluating your heart attack risk.
A lipid profile measures four main components: Total Cholesterol, Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL), High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL), and Triglycerides. According to Dr. Suchismitha Rajamanya, lead consultant and head of internal medicine at Aster Whitefield Hospital in Bengaluru, “Total cholesterol represents the overall amount of cholesterol in your blood. While it’s significant, it doesn’t provide a complete picture on its own. LDL, often called ‘bad cholesterol,’ can accumulate in your artery walls, forming plaques that can block blood flow and potentially cause heart attacks.”
Understanding these components can help you and your healthcare provider better assess your heart health and take necessary steps to reduce your risk of heart disease.
