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Common Health Tests

Importance of Health Screening

Common health tests may be performed in your doctor’s office or even in the pharmacy. Regular health checks and screening for certain diseases and conditions have become routine for most people.

New tests and investigations can and always are being developed. The indications (when you might have need) for some tests (mammography, for example) are still being determined. If you have any questions about exactly which tests are right for you, please discuss these concerns with your own doctor.

Screening tests for some of the less common conditions are not included here. Screening is an area where there are likely to be many advances over the coming years, with the identification of the genetic cause for more and more conditions. However, it is important to be aware that just because doctors can identify someone at increased risk for a condition, it may not necessarily be preventable. It may simply mean that you will need to work with your doctor to closely monitor your health to ensure that the condition is detected as early as possible.



Next: What Is a Screening Test? »

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Common Health Tests

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)
  • Triglyceri...

Read the Cholesterol Tests article »



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