A cholesterol test is the only way to determine if you have too much cholesterol in your blood. Most people should get a fasting cholesterol test every five years, but people with risk factors for heart disease should be tested more frequently. A lipoprotein profile cholesterol test measures total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, and triglycerides. There are home cholesterol tests available, but they often only measure total cholesterol, which can be misleading.
Cholesterol Test: An Overview
The only way to find out if you have
high cholesterol is to have a blood
cholesterol test. You can have high cholesterol for many years without feeling its effects. In fact, most people with high cholesterol feel no different than those without it.
According to recent guidelines, a person should get a fasting cholesterol test every five years. For a person with
risk factors for heart disease, he or she should get a cholesterol test more frequently.
There are several
types of cholesterol tests available. Each test measures different components of cholesterol and fats in the blood, including:
Some cholesterol tests, like a lipid profile done at the doctor's office, will look at all four components. Other tests, like most home cholesterol tests, only look at total cholesterol. Some cholesterol tests also provide a
cholesterol ratio or
VLDL (very low density lipoprotein) as part of their results.
Cholesterol Test: Lipoprotein Profile
It is best to have a blood cholesterol test called a "lipoprotein profile" or "lipid profile" to find out your
cholesterol levels. This cholesterol test is done after a 9- to 12-hour fast and gives information about your:
- Total cholesterol
- LDL
- HDL
-
Triglycerides.
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