Something went wrong on our side, please try again. Show references What is cholesterol? National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.
Accessed Oct. Good vs. American Heart Association. My cholesterol guide. Centers for Disease Control. Rosenson RS, et al. HDL-cholesterol: Clinical aspects of abnormal values. HDL cholesterol. Lab Tests Online. Ballantyne CM, ed. Therapeutic targeting of high-density lipoprotein metabolism. Philadelphia, Pa. Madsen CM, et al. Extreme high high-density lipoprotein cholesterol is paradoxically associated with high mortality in men and women: Two prospective cohort studies.
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Hypothyroidism symptoms: Can hypothyroidism cause eye problems? Hypothyroidism underactive thyroid Is your diet hurting your heart? You should also be offered a free cholesterol test by the NHS if any of the following apply to you:. Find out why. Donate now. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Continue Find out more. Get healthy living and recipes sent straight to your inbox Sign up to our FREE monthly newsletter for tips, information and practical help to manage cholesterol.
Getting a cholesterol test. A cholesterol check involves a simple blood test. Where can I get a test? There are three main ways you can get a test. Visit your pharmacist. Visit your GP. Can I test my own cholesterol at home? What does a cholesterol check involve? Select personalised ads. Apply market research to generate audience insights.
Measure content performance. Develop and improve products. List of Partners vendors. Among the most important measures of health are cholesterol levels. Cholesterol is a lipid that is carried in the bloodstream by specialized lipid-carrying particles called lipoproteins. Cholesterol blood tests often called the lipid panel measure the amounts of cholesterol carried by three main lipoproteins—low-density lipoprotein LDL , high-density lipoprotein HDL , and very low-density lipoprotein VLDL —all of which play a role in cell metabolism.
The lipid panel will also measure triglycerides, the most common type of fat in the blood. The amounts of LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, VLDL cholesterol, and triglycerides in your blood will help your doctor assess your overall risk of heart disease, stroke, and other cardiovascular conditions.
As stated, when you have a lipid panel, there are several notable measurements. The results of your lipid panel are an important component in allowing your doctor to assess your cardiovascular health and risk. Other factors that are taken into account when determining your risk include your blood pressure, weight, exercise levels, and the presence of medical conditions such as diabetes.
Each component of the results provides different pieces of information. Important measures are:. When you have a cholesterol test, doctors are most concerned with total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, and triglyceride levels. In addition, you may be asked to steer clear of any food or drink aside from water for 9—12 hours before the test. For many years, fasting prior to cholesterol tests was recommended in every case. However, increasingly, doctors are reconsidering this recommendation.
That said, food before a test can elevate triglyceride levels, so accuracy there does require fasting. Prior to your test, double-check with your doctor about how best to prepare. Cholesterol tests provide a broader glimpse of your health status.
Cholesterol tests are performed on blood samples taken in a clinic, hospital, or outpatient center. This sample blood is usually collected from a vein in the forearm. A rapid test, which relies on blood collected from a finger prick, can also be given in the clinic or taken at home.
These are typically not as accurate or detailed as their standard counterparts. Generally, the turnaround time for your results is relatively quick, only taking one to two days. Rapid test results from finger pricks are ready faster than that. Some care needs to be taken to prevent bruising or hematoma, swelling, and pooling of the blood in the affected area.
Though rare, some needlestick injuries and blood draw sites can become infected and problematic. While each individual measure has its oen importance and place, a true assessment of health involves comparing them to each other, as well as assessing other health factors, such as disease status, lifestyle, genetics, gender, and age.
What sorts of measures raise red flags? There are several, including:. Cholesterol levels, measured in milligrams mg of cholesterol per deciliter dL of blood, are categorized as optimal, near optimal, borderline, high, and very high.
What are considered healthy, normal levels? Clearly, your cholesterol levels are closely tied to your health, and understanding your numbers as well as where you should be, is an important step in taking care of yourself. Whatever challenges you face, the benefits—a longer, healthier life—are worth it.
However, researchers have found that eating most foods only negligibly affects most cholesterol measures—total, HDL, and LDL—with only triglycerides seeing spikes for a couple hours after a meal.
Typically, patients are asked to avoid eating food or any beverage aside from water for nine to 12 hours before the test.
For some kinds of cholesterol—and for younger people—fasting may not be necessary, so make sure you have a clear sense of what your doctor needs you to do.
While fasting before cholesterol has been the standard practice, it may not be necessary in every case. In fact, researchers have noted that eating beforehand has only a negligible effect on three of the four primary types: total, HDL, and LDL.
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