Because the effects can go unnoticed, people should have cholesterol tests at least once every five years. Cholesterol tests are the only way to detect high cholesterol in the blood. Lipoprotein profiles are cholesterol tests that measure total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, and triglycerides. If you use one of the home cholesterol tests on the market today, be aware that many only measure total cholesterol.
Why Are Cholesterol Tests Important?
Blood
cholesterol tests are the only way doctors can know if you have
high cholesterol. A person can have high cholesterol for many years without feeling its effects; most people with high cholesterol feel no different than those without it.
Recent guidelines indicate that a person should get a fasting cholesterol test every five years. However, a person with
risk factors for heart disease should have cholesterol tests performed more frequently.
There are several
types of cholesterol tests available. Each of these cholesterol tests 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 measure total cholesterol. Some cholesterol tests also provide a
cholesterol ratio or
VLDL (very low density lipoprotein) as part of their results.
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