Our healthcare providers provide lipid panels as a common blood test to monitor and screen for your risk of cardiovascular disease. Too many lipids (cholesterol and triglycerides) in your blood can lead to buildup in your blood vessels and arteries, which can cause damage and increase your risk of cardiovascular problems.

Why do I need a lipid panel blood test?

Suppose you have one or more risk factors for cardiovascular disease. In that case, your provider may suggest frequent screening through a lipid panel to try to catch elevated cholesterol levels before you have symptoms.

Risk factors for cardiovascular disease include:

• Being over age 45 if you’re a man or were assigned male at birth and over 50 if you’re a woman or female.
• Having a high cholesterol result on a previous test.
• Smoking cigarettes.
• Having obesity.
• Not getting enough physical activity.
• Having high blood pressure (hypertension).
• Having diabetes or prediabetes.
• Having a first-degree relative, such as a parent or sibling, who developed heart disease early (under 55 in males and under 65 in females).