Cholesterol Tests

Cholesterol Drugs Slideshow

• Cholesterol Tests Overview
• Cholesterol Tests Preparation
• During the Procedure
• After the Procedure
• Risks
• Results
• When to Seek Medical Care
• For More Information
• Web Links
• Synonyms and Keywords
• Authors and Editors

Cholesterol Tests Overview

What is cholesterol?

Cholesterol is a waxy, fatlike substance that is naturally present in cell walls or membranes everywhere in the body. Your body uses cholesterol to produce many hormones, vitamin D, and the bile acids that help to digest fat. If you have too much cholesterol in your bloodstream, the excess may be deposited in the arteries of the heart, which could lead to heart disease.

What is a cholesterol test?

A cholesterol test is a simple blood test that checks the cholesterol levels in your blood. This test is also called a fasting lipoprotein profile. A fasting lipoprotein profile measures:

• Total cholesterol (the total amount of cholesterol in your blood)



• HDL (“good”) cholesterol (helps keep cholesterol from building up in your arteries)



• LDL (“bad”) cholesterol (main cause of buildup and blockage in your arteries)



• Triglycerides (another form of fat that may also lead to blockage in your arteries)

A cholesterol test is done to evaluate a person’s risk for heart disease. Government guidelines state that healthy adults who are aged 20 years or older should have a cholesterol test done once every 5 years.