What is it used for?If you have high cholesterol, you may not experience any symptoms at all, but you could be at significant risk for heart disease. A cholesterol test can give your health care provider important information about the cholesterol levels in your blood. The test measures:LDL levels. Also known as the "bad" cholesterol, LDL is the main source of blockages in the arteries.HDL levels. Considered the "good" cholesterol, HDL helps get rid of "bad" LDL cholesterol.Total cholesterol. The combined amount of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol in your blood.Triglycerides A type of fat found in your blood. According to some studies, high levels of triglycerides may increase the risk of heart disease, especially in women.VLDL levels. Very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) is another type of "bad" cholesterol. Development of plaque on the arteries has been linked to high VLDL levels. It's not easy to measure VLDL, so most of the time these levels are estimated based on triglyceride measurements.
