Quick answer
What is a cholesterol blood test?
A cholesterol blood test measures the fats in your blood to help assess your risk of heart disease and stroke. Fasting was often needed in the past, but many labs now accept a non-fasting sample. A high LDL level may warrant lifestyle changes and sometimes statins after a QRISK assessment.
What a cholesterol blood test measures
A cholesterol blood test, sometimes called a lipid profile, measures your total cholesterol along with LDL, HDL and triglycerides. These results form part of a wider assessment of your cardiovascular risk.
What causes raised cholesterol
Raised cholesterol can be caused by a combination of diet, genetics, obesity and diabetes. It often causes no symptoms, which is why a blood test is the only reliable way to detect it.
How high cholesterol is treated
Statins are usually the first-line treatment when your level of risk warrants medication. Lifestyle measures remain important whether or not you take statins.
How cholesterol is monitored
Your cholesterol is usually rechecked after you start statins to see how well they are working. Once your level is stable, an annual review is typically recommended.
Common questions about the cholesterol blood test
- Do I need to fast before a cholesterol blood test?
- For routine testing, a non-fasting sample is often acceptable. Follow the instructions from your local laboratory, as some tests may still ask you to fast beforehand.
- What is a healthy target cholesterol level?
- Your target depends on your overall cardiovascular risk, which is worked out using a QRISK assessment. Lower targets usually apply if you have diabetes or have already had heart disease.
- Can diet lower my cholesterol?
- Eating less saturated fat and more fibre can help lower your cholesterol. If your cardiovascular risk is high, statins are often still needed alongside these dietary changes.
- What is familial hypercholesterolaemia?
- Familial hypercholesterolaemia is an inherited condition that causes a high LDL cholesterol level from an early age. It is important to diagnose it early and treat it promptly to reduce the long-term risk.