All Blood Tests

To measure cholesterol, a simple blood test is often carried out. 12 hours before your test you may be required to refrain from eating (which usually includes when you are sleeping at nighttime). This requirement is to enable a blood measurement after allowing time for all food to be digested. The procedure itself is simply your doctor, or practice nurse taking a tiny amount of blood by either using a needle and syringe or by pin pricking your finger to obtain a small sample.

The sample taken will be used to measure the levels of LDL (bad) and HDL (good), and triglycerides (fats) in your blood. The measuring units for blood are millimoles per liter of blood (mmol/litre). The current scientific thinking is that a healthy balance of cholesterol in the blood is to have a total blood level of less than 5mmol/litre, and an LDL cholesterol level of under 3mmol/litre.

Blood level testing is available and advised for everyone, but it would be a good idea to have a test soon if any of these risk factors apply to you:

* You are over 40 years of age,

* There is a history of diseases such as cardiovascular disease in your family. For example, if a close relative on your side of the family, such as your father or brother developed heart disease, or had a heart attack, or a stroke before the age of 55 years old, or if your mother or sister had these conditions before the age of 65 years old

* A close family member has a cholesterol related condition.

* You are overweight or obese.

* You have high blood pressure (hypertension).

* You have a medical condition, such as a kidney disorder, an under-active thyroid gland, or acute inflammation of the pancreas (acute pancreatitis).

Any of the above listed conditions can cause an increase your everyday levels.

Many lifestyle choices can also increase your risk of cardiovascular disease, heart attack, or stroke by adversely affecting your cholesterol ratio. Here are some of the most common risk aspects:

* Smoking, especially if you smoke very heavily.

* A highly unbalanced diet.

* A high BMI (body mass index – your weight in relation to your height),

* Conditions such as high blood pressure (hypertension), diabetes and

other un-avoidable risk factors, such as your age, sex, and ethnicity.

Whatever your lifestyle or age it is advised for everyone to take a blood test because the sooner you are examined, should there be any problems your doctor can help you with drug treatment of a dietary program to aid your levels into returning to a healthy balance. So don´t delay, get a cholesterol blood test today.