If you get a cholesterol blood test, it will have a different purpose to many other medical tests. That’s because the results are designed to help you prevent future problems. And since heart disease is just one of the problems high cholesterol can bring with it, it really is a good idea to think about getting tested.

If you didn’t already know it, high cholesterol levels are associated with health problems like hardening of the arteries, heart disease. There’s also a much higher risk of death from heart attacks.

For those reasons alone it’s worth while trying to beat cholesterol. Cholesterol testing is now considered a straightforward part of an overall preventative health care regimen and although opinions do vary, it seems that cholesterol testing is recommended every 3 to 5 years.

A cholesterol test done at the same time as other tests like HDL and LDL levels is usually called a lipid profile. Of course, if you are already on cholesterol medication you may need testing more frequently to see how you’re doing. There are three major risk categories :

Desirable: For results below 200 mg/dL that would indicate a relatively low risk of heart disease.

Borderline: Any results in the region of 200 to 240 mg/dL indicates a moderate risk of developing heart disease.

High Risk: Results above 240 mg/dL suggest that you are in a high risk category and really should do something about your cholesterol levels. Remember too, that the ratio between your HDL and LDL levels will also give you an indication of how serious the problem might be.

Testing for cholesterol isn’t difficult and it’s not invasive so if you have any worries about your cholesterol levels it’s wise to discuss them with your physician. He can arrange suitable testing and once you have the results you’ll know whether you need to make any changes to your lifestyle.

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