Learn about total cholesterol testing

Total cholesterol test is a test that shows the total amount of cholesterol in the blood. Because high blood cholesterol increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases, regular tests such as total cholesterol are essential to help manage health conditions.

Cholesterol is a fat found in the blood and all cells in the body. Cholesterol plays an important role, helping to form cell membranes, producing bile to help digest fatty foods, playing a central role in many biochemical reactions, necessary for the production of gonadal hormones, There are two sources of cholesterol for the body, that is cholesterol produced by the body in the liver (accounting for 80%) and exogenous cholesterol, provided through food, especially food. rich in cholesterol such as animal viscera, egg yolks, meat, milk,...
Thus, cholesterol is extremely necessary and indispensable in the body. However, if the body is provided with too much cholesterol, unused cholesterol can accumulate in blood vessels, for a long time will form plaques, narrowing and clogging blood vessels, causing many diseases. cardiovascular disease and stroke risk. Therefore, monitoring and maintaining a stable cholesterol level plays an important role in health.

There are many types of cholesterol in the body, the total cholesterol test is a test that shows the total amount of cholesterol found in the patient's blood. Total cholesterol concentration is made up of:
LDL-Cholesterol (Low density lipoprotein cholesterol): Full name is "low-density lipoprotein cholesterol". LDL is made up of an outer layer of lipoproteins and a core of cholesterol. LDL is known as "bad cholesterol" because it often builds up on artery walls, increasing the risk of coronary heart disease and stroke. The normal value of LDL-Cholesterol is <130mg/dL, the higher the LDL-Cholesterol level is, the higher the risk of cardiovascular disease. HDL- Cholesterol (High density lipoprotein cholesterol): Called "high-density lipoprotein cholesterol". HDL-cholesterol is called "good cholesterol" because they help remove and collect LDL and other bad cholesterol, transport bad cholesterol to the liver for processing. HDL-cholesterol helps protect vessel walls, keep blood vessels clean, keep blood vessels healthy. If the HDL-cholesterol level is >60mg/dL, this is a good sign for heart health. If HDL is <40mg/dL this is a bad sign. Triglycerides: The triglycerides in the blood. Normal triglyceride levels are <150mg/dL, 150-199mg/dL is mildly high, 200-499mg/dL is high, and >500mg/dL is very high. Increased triglycerides increase the risk of coronary heart disease and other dangerous cardiovascular diseases. The total cholesterol test index reflects the risk of cardiovascular disease. Therefore, the higher the total cholesterol test results, the greater the risk of cardiovascular disease. A normal value for total cholesterol is less than 200mg/dL (<5.2 mmol/L). Total cholesterol is not good, there is a risk of health effects when it is over 240 mg/dL (> 6.2 mmol/L).

The foods eaten before the test can affect the cholesterol levels in the body. Therefore, for accurate test results, patients should fast for 9-12 hours before the test, can drink filtered water, do not drink milk, soft drinks, coffee, smoke,... Absolutely do not use alcohol, stimulants, carbonated and alcoholic beverages 24 hours before the test, because it can falsify the results. The best time to draw blood for testing is in the morning.

Total cholesterol test results are affected by the following factors:
Patient's diet: If the patient has just eaten cholesterol-rich foods such as eggs, animal organs, ... will increase the concentration. blood cholesterol levels, test results are incorrect. Some drugs such as tranquilizers, lansoprazole, levodopa, beta-blockers, birth control pills, thiazide diuretics, vitamin D, phenytoin, phenobarbital,... can affect the test results. Blood cholesterol in winter is usually about 8% higher than in summer.

Blood cholesterol can be high even when a person has no symptoms, so health experts recommend that all adults have regular blood cholesterol tests to monitor and control blood cholesterol for at least 5 five times. If the test results are high, the early detection will make the treatment process more convenient and effective.
To maintain cholesterol levels at a healthy level, you should maintain a healthy lifestyle, exercise every day, eat a healthy diet, eat a lot of fiber, limit foods high in cholesterol such as meat. red, dairy products, animal viscera,... Limit alcohol, don't smoke.

Vinmec International General Hospital offers customers a package of outpatient diabetes management - hyperlipidemia to help patients proactively monitor the status of cholesterol and blood fat in the body through blood tests, total stool From there, the doctor will give general conclusions and advice to the client to protect their health, adjust a healthy lifestyle, and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Customers can directly go to Vinmec Health system nationwide to visit or contact the hotline here for support.
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