As we get older there are certain blood tests that should be part of our routine healthcare practices. A regular cholesterol blood test is one of the best ways to understand, improve, and manage your cholesterol levels.
Check with your neighbourhood pharmacy to see if they offer a complete cholesterol blood test (a.k.a lipid panel or lipid profile) which is a blood test that measures the number of triglycerides and cholesterol in your bloodstream. Anna Pharmacy offers a variety of cholesterol blood tests in Wallington and Hackbridge.
A cholesterol test can determine your individual risk of fatty deposit (plaque) build-up in your arteries that can lead to blocked or narrowed arteries throughout your body (atherosclerosis).
A cholesterol blood test is an important tool to help keep you healthy and prevent heart attack and stroke. Keep reading to learn why we need regular cholesterol blood tests.
What is a Complete Cholesterol Test?
A complete cholesterol test measures four types of fats in your blood:
· Total cholesterol – Asum of your body’s blood cholesterol levels (LDL, HDL, and Triglycerides).
· Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol – Referred to as the “bad” cholesterol, if there is too much of LDL in your blood it can cause a build-up of fatty deposits, which reduces blood flow and can lead to a heart attack or stroke.
· High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol – Referred to as”good” cholesterol because it helps carry away LDL cholesterol, thus keeping your blood flowing more freely and your arteries open.
· Triglycerides – Atype of fat in the blood that converts calories it doesn’t need into triglycerides, which are stored in fat cells. High triglyceride levels are associated with several factors, including obesity, consuming too much sugar or drinking too much alcohol, being sedentary, smoking, or having diabetes.
Who Should Get a Cholesterol Test?
Healthcare experts recommend that individuals ages 45 to 65 get cholesterol screenings every 1 to 2 years. People over the age of 65 should take cholesterol blood tests annually.
More frequent testing may be necessary if: your initial test results were abnormal, you have coronary artery disease, you’re taking cholesterol-lowering medications, or are at high risk of having high cholesterol because you:
· Have high cholesterol or heart attack in your family history.
· Are obese.
· Do not exercise.
· Have diabetes.
· Don’t follow a healthy diet.
Schedule your regular cholesterol test in Wallington, Hackbridge, or Carshalton Anna Pharmacy branches. If you have any questions about high cholesterol and treatments for it, you can find useful information on our website at or drop in and speak with one of our expert in-house clinicians for all the answers you need!