Total Blood Test For Cholesterol - LDL, HDL, and Triglycerides

Cholesterol is a lipidic (fat like substance) waxy steroid found in the cell membranes and is transported in the blood plasma. It is very important for the cells and thus, is generated within the body. The blood cholesterol level has a lot to do with the chances of getting a heart disease. High blood cholesterol is one of the major risk factors for heart disease. A risk factor is a condition that increases your chance of getting a disease. In fact, the higher your blood cholesterol level, the greater your risk is for having a heart attack. Heart disease is the number one killer of men and women in the US. Each year, more than a million Americans have heart attacks, and about a half million die.

This makes keeping a watch on cholesterol of great consequence. When there is too much cholesterol in blood, it builds up in the walls of arteries. Over the time, this build up causes the arteries to harden, so that arteries become narrowed and blood flow to the heart is slowed down or blocked. The blood carries oxygen to the heart. If the blood supply to a portion of the heart is completely cut off by a blockage, the result is a heart attack.

The Cholesterol Blood Test

During a general check-up, most doctors recommend a cholesterol blood test to determine whether the patient is at a risk of heart disease. The test measures the amount of cholesterol and triglycerides in the serum (the non-cellular fluid part) of blood.

A total-cholesterol test will examine all the blood fats, including the overall cholesterol level, the LDL (low-density lipoproteins, or 'bad' cholesterol), HDL (high-density lipoproteins, or 'good' cholesterol), triglycerides (the form of fat that transports and stores energy derived from food), plus several other varieties of fats. However, these days, most cholesterol tests concentrate only on LDL cholesterol.

It is a relatively straightforward blood test. One must fast for 9-12 hours before the test, and only water should be taken during the fast, as even tea or coffee can affect results. Then the blood sample is drawn from a vein either on the inside of the elbow or the back of the hand.

All tests for blood fats are measured in terms of milligrams per decilitre of blood (mg/dL). A total cholesterol count of less than 200 mg/dL is considered acceptable. The current medical wisdom is that the higher the cholesterol count, the greater the risk of heart disease or atherosclerosis (fat-clogged arteries). If the levels are over 240 mg/dL, one is believed to have nearly twice the risk of developing heart disease compared with someone within the normal range.

There is one problem- the inherent inaccuracy of the test itself. According to one study, 70 per cent of the samples analysed showed evidence of bias in computing the results. The equipment used in the analysis may also be inaccurate. 

There are many factors responsible for increasing the cholesterol in the blood. Saturated fat and cholesterol in the food make the blood cholesterol level go up. Saturated fat is the main culprit, but cholesterol in foods also matters. Being overweight is a risk factor for heart disease. It also tends to increase your cholesterol. Lastly and most unfortunately, genes can also play an important role. They partly determine how much cholesterol your body makes. High blood cholesterol can run in families.

To minimize the risk of any heart disease, the levels of cholesterol need to be kept in check. One of best ways is by physical exercise. Regular physical activity can help lower LDL (bad) cholesterol and raise HDL (good) cholesterol levels. It also helps lose weight. The next one is by diet control, choosing wisely what to eat can also prevent the disease.

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