Prevention · Screening
Cholesterol checks
Why cholesterol is checked, what a lipid test includes and how results feed into cardiovascular risk decisions such as statins.
Written by LON6EVITY Editorial Team · Last updated
Overview
High cholesterol usually has no symptoms. MedlinePlus explains that a blood test is the only way to know your levels.
What the test includes
A lipid test usually reports total cholesterol, LDL, HDL and triglycerides. The NHS describes what these values mean and notes that targets depend on individual risk.
Using the result
Cholesterol results are combined with other risk factors to estimate cardiovascular risk. The USPSTF uses this overall risk, not cholesterol alone, to guide statin recommendations for adults aged 40 to 75.
How often
Frequency depends on age, previous results and risk factors; the NHS Health Check includes a cholesterol test for eligible adults every five years.
Questions people commonly ask
- Do I need to fast before a cholesterol test?
- Often not, but follow the instructions from whoever orders the test.
Related biomarkers
Related tests
Related topics
See where your preventive health stands
What does this mean for your own health data? Log your results, follow trends over time and bring an organised summary to your next doctor's appointment.
Sources
- Cholesterol. MedlinePlus.
- Cholesterol levels. NHS.
- Statin Use for the Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease in Adults. USPSTF, 2022.