Health theme

Heart and vessels in view

Cardiovascular disease often develops gradually and causes no symptoms for a long time. Blood testing can reveal risk factors early, so you can adjust in time. Below you read which values give insight.

5 min readBy the Bloodworks editorial team

In short

Het lipidenprofiel vormt de basis: totaal cholesterol, LDL, HDL en triglyceriden zeggen samen meer dan één losse waarde.
ApoB telt het aantal risicodragende deeltjes en kan een fijnmaziger beeld geven dan cholesterol alleen.
Lp(a) is grotendeels erfelijk, staat los van uw leefstijl en hoeft doorgaans maar één keer bepaald te worden.
Hart- en vaatziekten ontwikkelen zich meestal zonder klachten, waardoor meten eerder inzicht geeft dan wachten op symptomen.
Voor een volledig lipidenprofiel adviseren wij nuchter te prikken. Voor ApoB en Lp(a) is dat niet strikt nodig.

Heeft u pijn of druk op de borst, uitstralend naar arm, kaak of rug, of bent u plotseling kortademig of duizelig? Bel dan direct 112. Bloedonderzoek brengt risico in kaart en is niet bedoeld om acute klachten te beoordelen.

What you can measure

Not every cause is visible in blood. These are the values that most often explain something.

Recommended test

Aanbevolen om uw hart- en vaatrisico in beeld te brengen

Cholesterol profile

4 markers

Het lipidenprofiel als basis: totaal cholesterol, HDL, LDL en triglyceriden.

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The lipid panel as a basis

Four values together form the lipid panel, the basis for your cardiovascular risk:

total cholesterol
LDL
HDL
triglycerides

The ratios (such as cholesterol/HDL) often say more than a single value. Your result is assessed against the laboratory's reference range and your personal risk profile.

In-depth markers: ApoB and Lp(a)

Apolipoprotein B counts the number of risk-bearing particles and can give a finer picture than cholesterol alone.

Lipoprotein(a) is a largely hereditary risk factor independent of lifestyle; it usually only needs to be measured once. Both are especially valuable with a family history.

Frequently asked questions

What does ApoB add to a regular cholesterol test?

ApoB counts the number of atherogenic particles instead of only the amount of cholesterol. This can give a finer picture of your risk, especially in borderline cases.

Why is Lp(a) important?

Lipoprotein(a) is largely hereditary and raises cardiovascular risk independent of your cholesterol. It is usually a one-off measurement.

Do I need to fast?

For a full lipid panel we usually advise fasting. For Lp(a) and ApoB this is not strictly necessary. See also our guide on fasting.

Sources