Cholesterol Test, Why Would You Need One?

Cholesterol is a natural sterol that the body needs for proper function. Cholesterol is produced in the liver and is a structural component of various cell membranes and also enables the body to absorb various vitamins. The problem occurs when the body has an excess of cholesterol. The level of cholesterol in the body can easily be determined by a cholesterol test, which are now available for use at home.

This can be due to a hereditary issue but more often then not, it is caused by the persons diet. People who suffer with high cholesterol often have a diet consisting of mainly animal products and dairy produce that are high in fat.

The main problem with high cholesterol is that the person who has it rarely knows about it until it is in a rather advanced stage. For many people the first time they hear that they have high cholesterol is when they visit the doctors for a regular check-up. High cholesterol is the main cause of heart disease and obstruction of the arteries. These conditions are both life threatening and so need avoiding.

It is now the general opinion that anyone over 40 should be given a cholesterol test and this should take place every few years. The cholesterol test is usually done as part of a lipid profile. This basically measures the number and make-up of any lipids in the bloodstream.

Lipids are simply fats that attach themselves to lipoprotein's in the bloodstream. The lipids that will be measured in a cholesterol test are:

LDL (low density lipoprotein), often considered to be bad cholesterol because it has the undesired effect of clogging the arteries by accumulating on the arterial walls.

HDL (high density lipoprotein), is the “good” cholesterol that you may have been hearing about recently. It is considered to be good because it has the job of transporting the LDL cholesterol to the liver where it can be processed and removed.

Triglyceride's are simply fat molecules that the body uses for energy.

A cholesterol test will also include a test for total cholesterol and this should be below 200mg/dl to be considered normal.

In the typical cholesterol test a blood sample is taken and then sent off to a laboratory to be analysed. The report generated from the test will be sent on to your doctor who will then decide the best course of action, (if any) to be taken.

Recently a number of home testing kits have arrived on the market for the consumer who is curious about their cholesterol level. Of course these are not quite as accurate as a proper lab test but they give a good indication as to whether you have a high level of cholesterol or not. If the cholesterol test returns a potentially high result it is best to get a proper lab test done by a doctor as they can advise on the best course of action.

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