How to read blood cholesterol tests
Have you had a blood test to check your cholesterol level? These check the different blood fat components:
total cholesterol
LDL (low-density lipoprotein), which is sometimes called “bad cholesterol”
HDL (high-density lipoprotein), which is sometimes called “good cholesterol”
triglycerides.
Your clinician then compares your test results to normal ranges – and may use ratios to compare different types of cholesterol.
High blood cholesterol is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. This is a broad term that includes disease of blood vessels throughout the body, arteries in the heart (known as coronary heart disease), heart failure, heart valve conditions, arrhythmia and stroke.
So what does cholesterol do? And what does it mean to have a healthy cholesterol ratio?
Blood fats
Cholesterol is a waxy type of fat made in the liver and gut, with a small amount of pre-formed cholesterol coming from food.
Cholesterol is found in all cell membranes, contributing to their structure and function. Your body uses cholesterol to make vitamin D, bile acid, and hormones, including oestrogen, testosterone, cortisol and aldosterone.
When there is too much cholesterol in your blood, it gets deposited into artery walls, making them hard and narrow. This process is called atherosclerosis.
Cholesterol is...
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