Let’s face it, cholesterol usually gets a lot of bad press. Most people don’t know much about cholesterol, except that they don’t want it!
However, cholesterol is actually an integral part of our overall health – there is both bad AND good cholesterol. Thus, it’s important to maintain healthy cholesterol levels for overall health.
Eating foods that are low in saturated fats and cholesterol, getting plenty of exercises, and maintaining a healthy weight can help lower the risk of high cholesterol, stroke, and heart disease. Getting a cholesterol blood test will reveal if you need to make any lifestyle changes to manage cholesterol levels.
If you live in the greater London area, you can visit Intrigue Health to get a cholesterol test in Gravesend. Longfield, or Bexley.
Here’s what you should know about your cholesterol, cholesterol blood tests, and cholesterol levels.
What is Cholesterol and What Does it Do?
Cholesterol is a waxy substance found in all cells that are produced in the liver and are responsible for repairing damaged tissue inside the body. Over time cholesterol accumulates in your arteries and restricts the flow of oxygen and blood to and from your heart – often causing a stroke or causing heart disease.
Cholesterol Blood Test
A Cholesterol Blood Test (also called a lipid test or lipid panel test) is a simple blood test that analyses the amount of fat content in your body. In some cases, you may have to have a Cholesterol Fasting Test which requires fasting for 12 hours before the blood test. Intrigue Health offers cholesterol testing in Longfield as well as our other pharmacy locations in London.
Types of Cholesterol
There are two types of cholesterol – high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL). To determine your HDL and LDL levels, you need to take a cholesterol blood test.
HDL (high-density lipoprotein)
“Good” cholesterol (HDL), removes LDL from your arteries and keeps your cardiovascular system healthy. By carrying bad cholesterol back to your liver to be processed, it is broken down and gets eliminated from your body.
LDL (low-density lipoprotein)
“Bad” cholesterol (LDL) can damage arterial walls and later becomes calcified which narrows the arterial blood passages.
Healthy Cholesterol Levels in Women and Men Aged 20 and Older:
| Type of Cholesterol | Healthy Level |
| Total Cholesterol | 125 to 200mg/dL |
| Non-HDL | Less than 130mg/dL |
| LDL | Less than 100mg/dL |
| HDL | 40mg/dL or higher |
Intrigue Health offers cholesterol tests in Bexley, Longfield, and Gravesend. Contact us with questions about cholesterol screening and suggestions on how to lower high cholesterol levels.
