When you visit your doctor for the first time about high cholesterol they will probably check your blood pressure and your weight, and ask you questions about your own and your family’s history of heart disease and diabetes. They will also arrange for you to have your cholesterol level tested.
To check the amount of cholesterol in your blood your doctor will need to take a small blood sample. Sometimes it is possible to do this by simply pricking your finger, but usually the doctor will have to take the blood from a vein in your arm. You may be asked to not eat anything for 12 hours before your blood test; this will help your doctor to get a better picture of what your cholesterol level is.
There are basically two types of cholesterol (good and bad) that are carried in the blood by proteins called lipoproteins. Bad cholesterol (also called low-density lipoprotein or LDL) can cause clogged arteries if you have too much in your blood. Good cholesterol (also called high-density lipoprotein or HDL) carries cholesterol out of the blood and into the liver, so it can help prevent clogged arteries. Triglycerides (TG) are a different type of fat. High TG levels as well as high bad cholesterol levels increases your risk of a heart attack or stroke. You can learn more about cholesterol and triglycerides here.  |  |  | | You should try to keep your LDL cholesterol low and your HDL cholesterol high. |  |
The blood sample taken by your doctor will be used to measure the amount of bad (LDL) cholesterol, good (HDL) cholesterol and triglycerides (TG). This will give the total cholesterol (TC) level. Different countries have different ways of measuring cholesterol levels and slightly different recommendations about what your cholesterol level should be. In most European countries, cholesterol levels are measured in millimoles per litre (mmol/L). In the US and some European countries, cholesterol levels are measured in milligrams per decilitre (mg/dL). | | | | Different countries have different recommendations about what your cholesterol level should be, but your doctor will talk to you about this. | |
Your doctor will be able to tell you what the recommended cholesterol levels are in your country. But, to give you an idea of what your cholesterol level should be if you are at moderate risk see the table below.
Table 1: Target cholesterol for people at moderate risk. |
| Europe | 5 mmol/L (190 mg/dL) | 3 mmol/L (115 mg/dL) | | US | 200 mg/dL (5.2 mmol/L) | 130 mg/dL (3.3 mmol/L) |
However, if you are at high risk of developing cardiovascular problems then your target cholesterol levels need to be lower. Again, your doctor will be able to tell you what these are in your country but to give you an idea see the table below.
Table 2: Target cholesterol levels for people at high risk. |
| Europe | 4.5 mmol/L (175 mg/dL) | 2.5 mmol/L (100 mg/dL) | | US | 200 mg/dL (5.2 mmol/L) | 100 mg/dL (2.5 mmol/L)
optional 70 mg/dL (1.8 mmol/L) |
Your cholesterol level is only part of the story though and your doctor will need to look at it along side other things such as your blood pressure, family history and lifestyle to work out your overall risk of developing heart problems. Your doctor will also decide whether you will need any treatment to help lower your cholesterol. | | | | Around 1 in 7 adults have cholesterol levels that are considered to be too high. | |
Your treatment will depend on your cholesterol level and your risk of future
cardiovascular problems. In most cases, your doctor will probably recommend that you make some changes to your lifestyle. This may involve: - Eating healthier
- Doing more exercise
- Controlling your weight
- Stopping smoking.
If you are at a higher risk of heart problems or your cholesterol level has not
been lowered enough with lifestyle changes then your doctor may give you a
cholesterol-lowering medicine, such as a statin. You can learn more about treatment for high cholesterol here. | | | | By changing what you eat and doing more exercise you can help reduce your bad (LDL) cholesterol and increase your good (HDL) cholesterol. | |
Next: Is it my fault I have high cholesterol? |