Having high cholesterol doesn't necessarily mean you will feel unwell or sick. You may not have any symptoms at all. Over half of all Australians over 25 have high cholesterol1 and many are unaware there is anything wrong. You might be one of those people! A simple blood test will tell you whether you have high cholesterol. Then you can discuss with your doctor the best way to manage your health if you do.
Who should have their cholesterol tested?
The National Heart Foundation of Australia recommends that all adults over 45 years have a regular blood cholesterol test.3 Adults who are under 45 years of age and who have other risk factors should also be tested regularly. Read our interesting Cholesterol stories to find out more.
What is a cholesterol test?
A cholesterol test is a simple blood test.
You will probably be asked to fast (not eat or drink) for 12 hours before having your cholesterol tested. Usually the test will be done first thing in the morning after an overnight fast.
A small amount of blood is taken and sent to the lab for testing.
The test will measure the levels of LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, triglycerides and total cholesterol. The results are generally available within a couple of days and will be sent to your doctor.
What happens after the test?
Your doctor will explain the test results and discuss them in relation to your individual risk factors for cardiovascular disease. If your cholesterol levels are high enough to warrant treatment, you and your doctor can discuss a treatment plan and set your personal cholesterol target levels.
References
1 Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Heart, stroke and vascular diseases. Australian facts 2004. CVD Series No.22, May 2004.
3 Lipid Management Guidelines, MJA 175, 5 November 2001