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Brighten Life members who achieve the Brightest level have the opportunity to
receive one free Advanced Wellness Check. After reaching the Brightest level, donors have the rest of the year and the entirety of the following calendar year to come to a community donor center or mobile blood drive to receive the Advanced Welness Check.
This Advanced Wellness Check
provides a complete lipid profile, which includes fasting cholesterol, HDL, LDL, and triglycerides. A lipid profile is a group of tests to determine a person's risk of coronary artery
disease. These tests have been shown to be good indicators of whether or not
someone is likely to have a heart attack and/or stroke caused by blocked
vessels.
Brighten Life donors
can track their advanced wellness results through My Personal Donation History.
Understanding cholesterol numbers is as important as getting cholesterol levels
checked on a regular basis. Keep in mind that regular doctor visits are recommended for the ideal health care
practices.
General information and basic guidelines regarding
aspects of cholesterol management can be found here.
LDL CHOLESTEROL
LDL cholesterol can accumulate on the walls of arteries, which increases the risk of
heart disease and stroke. This is why LDL cholesterol is commonly referred to as
“bad” cholesterol. The lower the LDL cholesterol number, the better. The
following numbers reflect LDL cholesterol levels.
HDL CHOLESTEROL
HDL cholesterol is commonly referred to as “good” cholesterol. The higher
the HDL cholesterol number, the better. HDL cholesterol protects against heart
disease by taking “bad” cholesterol out of the blood and keeping it from
accumulating in the arteries. The following numbers reflect HDL cholesterol
levels.
TRIGLYCERIDES
Triglycerides are the chemical form in which most fat exists in food and in the
body. In some people, a high triglyceride level has been linked to the occurrence of coronary
artery disease. The following numbers reflect triglycerides
levels.
TOTAL CHOLESTEROL
Total cholesterol is a measure of both HDL and LDL cholesterol and other
lipid components in the blood. The following numbers reflect total cholesterol
levels.
Disclaimer
As with all medical tests, results are best
interpreted by your physician and are meant to be a guide in
determining underlying medical conditions. Considered individually, they do not
provide a diagnosis.
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