Cholesterol + Full Blood Lipids
A cholesterol test is a simple blood test that measures the levels of two different types of cholesterol types in your blood – LDL cholesterol (“bad” cholesterol) and HDL (“good” cholesterol), as well as the levels of another lipid found in the blood, called triglycerides.
A full blood lipids panel will test for the following:
- Total cholesterol
- HDL
- LDL
- Triglycerides
This test is carried out in order to evaluate a person’s risk of developing heart disease.
What is cholesterol
Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that is absorbed from animal fats in our diet and is also made in our liver. Cholesterol is essential to our health and body function and it is naturally found in the body’s cell walls. We need cholesterol to produce certain hormones (such as testosterone, oestrogen, progesterone, cortisol), to help to make Vitamin D and to make bile in the liver, which helps us to digest fats.
Cholesterol becomes a problem if there is too much in the body, especially too much of the “bad” LDL cholesterol, which can build up in arteries, leading to coronary heart disease and other serious conditions such as heart attack and stroke.
There are two major types of cholesterol found in the blood: low density lipoprotein (LDL) – which is the ‘bad’ cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) – the ‘good’ cholesterol:
- LDL cholesterol is called ‘bad’ cholesterol because it contributes to the development of sticky plaques that form inside blood vessels, known as atherosclerosis, which can causes blood clots that contribute to heart attacks and stokes. LDL cholesterol can be a problem in certain individuals with a genetic predisposition, which can be measured by our DNA profile and can be modified using specific dietary and lifestyle measures that suit your genotype, as well as the use of specific nutrients and natural medicines.
- HDL cholesterol is called ‘good’ cholesterol because it helps remove cholesterol from the plaques that develop inside blood vessels, taking it back to the liver to be excreted from the body in bile. Levels of HDL in the body can be raised by exercise, losing weight and taking certain supplements.
Why test for cholesterol
A cholesterol test can help to evaluate a person’s risk of developing coronary heart disease. High blood cholesterol and triglycerides have been associated with heart disease and stroke, as well as increased risk of death from heart attack. As most individuals will not experience any symptoms when they have abnormally high cholesterol levels, a screening blood test is often the only way to detect that there is a problem.
Cholesterol testing is routinely ordered for most individuals seeking holistic medical care at Remède, as part of preventative healthcare, particularly if patients are over 40 or are at high risk due to other factors.
How are cholesterol levels tested
A cholesterol test is a simple fasting blood test, which means that no food or drink (except water) can be consumed for at least 12 hours before the test. Usually the test is done first thing in the morning following an overnight fast.
Your Remède practitioner will send you to your local blood collection centre, where your blood test will be taken before being sent to the laboratory for analysis.
What Can I Do If I Have High Cholesterol
At Remède, we offer a range of natural, but clinically effective strategies to treat patients with high cholesterol. In addition to cholesterol testing, your practitioner may order other tests to determine the underlying cause for your cholesterol problems, such as a DNA profile, functional liver detoxification profile, cellular health analysis.
In addition to prescribing an individualised dietary and exercise plan, specific supplements or herbal medicines may be prescribed to help your body to manage your cholesterol…naturally!
Meet the team of practitioners with a special interest in comprehensive cholesterol testing
- Dr Ruth Cullity
- Jan Purser
- Jo Coates
- Lauren Reid