Q: Lipid profiles are more specific blood tests that are helpful for determining your risk of cardiovascular disease, such as atherosclerosis, heart attack and stroke. Doctors assess the results of a lipid profile before determining if cholesterol-lowing medications are necessary. A lipid profile typically includes total cholesterol (includes all the lipoproteins in your blood), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (the "good" kind), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (the "bad" kind) and triglycerides, which are fats usually stored in fat cells. Essentially you want your total cholesterol to be less than 200 mg/dL and a favorable HDL to LDL ratio (approaching 1:2) in order to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.  HDL removes excess cholesterol from the blood and carries it to the liver for recycling. Desirable levels are above 50 mg/dL (ideally above 60 mg/dL). Your HDL level is the only one that you want to be high on this type of blood test. LDL deposits excess cholesterol in blood vessel in response to injury and inflammation, which can trigger atherosclerosis (clogged arteries). Desirable levels are less than 130 mg/dL (ideally less than 100 mg/dL). A blood sugar test measures the amount of glucose circulating in your blood, usually after fasting for at least 8 hours. This test is usually ordered if there is suspicion of diabetes (types 1 or 2, or gestational). Diabetes occurs when the pancreas doesn't produce enough insulin hormone (which grabs glucose from the blood) and/or the cells of the body don't allow insulin to deposit the glucose normally. As such, people with diabetes have chronically high blood glucose (termed hyperglycemia), which is considered greater than 125 mg/dL.  People at serious risk for diabetes (often classified as "prediabetic") typically have blood glucose levels between 100-125 mg/dL. Other causes of high blood glucose include: severe stress, chronic kidney disease, hyperthyroidism and an inflamed or cancerous pancreas. Not enough blood glucose (less than 70 mg/dL) is called hypoglycemia and characteristic of taking too much insulin medication, alcoholism and organ failure (liver, kidneys, heart). A CMP is a comprehensive metabolic panel, which measures lots of other constituents in your blood, such as electrolytes (charged elements, typically mineral salts), other minerals, protein, creatinine, liver enzymes and glucose. It's ordered to determine a person's overall health, but also to specifically check the status of their kidneys, liver, pancreas, electrolyte levels (needed for normal nerve conductance and muscle contraction) and acid/base balance. The CMP is typically ordered along with a CBC as part of a blood work-up for a medical exam or annual physical.  Sodium is an electrolyte required for regulating fluid levels in the body and allowing nerves and muscles to work properly, but too much can lead to hypertension (high blood pressure) and increase your risk of heart attack. Normal levels are between 136-144 mEq/L. Other electrolytes, such as potassium, can be included in this section. Liver enzymes (ALT and AST) become elevated in the blood due to liver injury or inflammation — often the result of consuming too much alcohol and/or drugs (prescription, over-the-counter and illicit), or from an infection such as hepatitis. Bilirubin, albumin and total protein can be included in this section. If your blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine levels are too high, that likely indicates problems with your kidneys. BUN should be between 7-29 mg/dL, whereas creatinine should be between 0.8-1.4 mg/dL. Other elements in a CMP include albumin, chloride, potassium, calcium, total protein, and bilirubin. Low or high levels of these elements can indicate the presence of disease.
A: Understand what lipid profiles are. Recognize the implications of a blood sugar test. Learn what the CMP is.

Q: You can have an amazing date at almost any type of restaurant, not just fancy and expensive ones. It can be a cantina with great margaritas, a French restaurant with luxurious entrees, even the new ice cream place.   You may want to choose a place you have been to before, or that someone you know has recommended. Nothing sours a date like ending up in a restaurant with prices that are shockingly high or food and service that's sub par. Check on the menu pricing. You can often get a sample menu online, and many restaurant reviews will give an idea of what you can expect to pay. This helps avoid an uncomfortable situation: finding yourself short of money, or at an unexpectedly extremely cheap or expensive eatery. Plan to pay for your date's meal if you are the one who's organizing the date. If you spent the day kayaking in the ocean, consider having a casual meal. You could get lunch or dinner from a food truck, or buy sandwiches from a deli near the beach. If you are both sandy, sweaty, and wearing your beach gear, it might not be appropriate or practical to go to the expensive seafood restaurant.   If you're going to be quite active all day, you could consider packing a picnic. Bring a bottle of champagne or wine to share to make it extra special. While casual dining is great for a date, avoid eating at a fast food place if at all possible. It's not the price of the food that matters, but the originality. Take your date somewhere special.  When your date recounts details to her best friend, you don't want her description to include, “And then we went to McDonalds.” Nothing could be more romantic than planning and cooking an entire meal for your date. If you're planning to have a date night in, it's a way to make your date feel very special. Plus, having good cooking skills is impressive and sexy. Just be sure to cook something you have made before, so you know it'll turn out and taste delicious.  You don't have to make a complicated six-course meal, but you also probably should not invite someone over for frozen pizza. If you are going to cook at home, make something quality. Or at least from a high-quality market. Sometimes making dinner together can be fun and romantic. Pasta dishes are easy to make, and relatively inexpensive.
A:
Choose an eatery. Match the tone of the date to the tone of the restaurant. Cook dinner at home.