What It Is and What to Do About It

Written by Jodi Helmer

• Cholesterol Tests
• Make Changes in the Kitchen
• Read Food Labels
• Get Moving
• Lose Extra Weight
• Quit Smoking
• Check to See What’s Working
• More

Has your doctor told you that you have “borderline” high cholesterol? That means your cholesterol level is above normal but not quite in the “high” range.

You have borderline high cholesterol if your total cholesterol is between 200 and 239 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL).

Your doctor will also consider other things, like how much of your total cholesterol is LDL (“bad”) cholesterol and how much of it is HDL (“good”) cholesterol.

Making simple changes in your lifestyle is often enough to bring borderline cholesterol levels down to the normal range. Some people may also need to take medicine for it. And keep in mind that other things, like diabetes, high blood pressure, and smoking, also affect your heart health; it’s not just about cholesterol.

If you have borderline cholesterol, your doctor will decide whether you need treatment by looking at these and other risk factors for heart disease. They may ask you to get an imaging test of your heart called a coronary artery calcium (CAC) scan. This test reveals whether dangerous plaque has built up in your heart’s arteries.

You won’t know you have borderline cholesterol unless you get a cholesterol blood test. You should do that every 5 years.

The average American has a total cholesterol level of 200, which is in the borderline range.

You can turn it around before you get high cholesterol. Start with these steps.

Why Do I Need a Cholesterol Test?

Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance. Your liver makes all the cholesterol your body needs. But you take in more cholesterol from certain foods, such as those from animals. If you have too much cholesterol in your body, it can build up in the walls of your arteries (as “plaque”) and eventually harden. This process, called atherosclerosis, actually narrows the arteries, making it harder for blood to travel through them. 

Unfortunately, high cholesterol doesn’t cause symptoms. In later stages of atherosclerosis, though, you may have angina – severe chest pain from lack of blood flow to the heart. If an artery gets totally blocked, a heart attack results. A routine blood cholesterol test is a far better way of finding out what your cholesterol level is.

What Does a Cholesterol Test Measure?

In addition to measuring the total cholesterol in your blood, the standard cholesterol test (called a “lipid panel”) measures three specific kinds of fat:

Low-density lipoproteins (LDL). This is the “bad cholesterol,” the main cause of plaque buildup, which increases your risk of heart disease. In general, the lower the number, the better. But LDL cholesterol is only one part of a larger equation that measures a person’s overall risk of having a heart attack or stroke.  

For years, guidelines focused on specific target numbers for people to achieve to lower their risk. The most recent guidelines focus on a person’s overall risk and, based on that risk, recommend a certain percentage of LDL reduction as one part of a way to prevent serious heart and blood vessel problems.

High-density lipoproteins (HDL). This is the “good cholesterol.” It transports bad cholesterol from the blood to the liver, where it is excreted by the body. Your HDL is another part of the equation that identifies the risk of a cardiovascular event. In general, the higher the number the better, although, as with LDL, the emphasis has shifted from specific target numbers to ways to reduce the overall risk.

Triglycerides. Another type of fat in the bloodstream, triglycerides are also linked to heart disease. They are stored in fat cells throughout the body.

What Do Cholesterol Test Numbers Mean?

If you have a lipoprotein profile, it’s important to look at all the numbers from the cholesterol test, not just the total cholesterol number. That’s because LDL and HDL levels are two top signs of potential heart disease. Use the information below to interpret your results (with the help of your doctor, of course). This will help you get a better idea about your risk for heart disease.

Total blood cholesterol level:

• High risk: 240 mg/dL and above
• Borderline high risk: 200-239 mg/dL
• Desirable: Less than 200 mg/dL

LDL cholesterol levels:

190 mg/dL and above represents a high risk for heart disease and is a strong sign that you can benefit from intensive treatment, including lifestyle changes, diet, and statin therapy for reducing that risk.

For LDL levels that are equal to or less than 189 mg/dL, the guidelines recommend strategies for lowering LDL by 30% to 50%, depending on what other risk factors you have that can affect the health of your heart and blood vessels.

HDL cholesterol:

• High risk: Less than 40 mg/dL for men and less than 50 mg/dL for women

Triglycerides:

• Very high risk: 500 mg/dL and above
• High risk: 200-499 mg/dL
• Borderline high risk: 150-199 mg/dL
• Normal: Less than 150 mg/dL

Use your diet to help lower your LDL cholesterol and raise your HDL cholesterol.

For the biggest impact, choose foods that are low in saturated fats and trans fats, and high in fiber, antioxidants, and omega-3 fatty acids. Whole grains, beans, apples, pears, oatmeal, salmon, walnuts, and olive oil are excellent heart-healthy choices.

Here are some more diet tips to help you lower your cholesterol:

Make meat lean. Cut back on red meats that are high in saturated fat and cholesterol, and choose only lean meats with very little visible fat. Examples of lean beef include London broil, eye of round, and filet mignon. Avoid processed meats like bacon and sausage, which are linked to higher odds of heart disease and diabetes.

Remove skin from poultry. That’s where much of the fat is.

Eat more seafood. It usually has less fat than other meat. The American Heart Association recommends eating two servings of fatty fish (like salmon, tuna, or mackerel) each week for heart health. Those fish are good sources of omega-3 fatty acids, which are good for you.

Limit saturated fat. These are found in whole-fat dairy products, mayonnaise, and hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils or fats (such as stick margarine). These products may also contain trans fats, which can raise your cholesterol level.

Go liquid. For cooking, replace saturated fats that are solid at room temperature (such as butter and shortening) with liquid monounsaturated fats such as olive, canola, and flaxseed oils. There’s evidence that eating moderate amounts of monounsaturated fat – found in such foods as nuts, seeds, and avocados – may lower LDL cholesterol.

Add fiber with plant foods. Good sources include grapefruit, apples, beans and other legumes, barley, carrots, cabbage, and oatmeal.

Get two daily servings of plant sterol-rich foods. These foods, such as nuts, can help lower cholesterol. Plant sterols are also added to some soft margarines, granola bars, yogurts, and orange juice.

You need to know how much saturated fat, trans fat, and cholesterol are in your favorite foods. That can help you make better choices.

Too much saturated fat can drive up your cholesterol level. It’s found mostly in animal products. Cholesterol also is found in animal products. Your doctor or a dietitian can let you know what your daily limit should be.

Artificial trans fats can raise your LDL (“bad”) cholesterol. They’re in packaged foods, like some crackers, cookies, pastries, and microwave popcorn.

Check the nutrition label. And because products marked “0 grams” of trans fats per serving can have up to a gram of trans fats, check the ingredients label, too. Anything marked “partially hydrogenated” is trans fat.

Exercise helps you get your cholesterol down from the borderline range.

Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise, such as brisk walking, per day (150 minutes each week). You can also do a more intense workout for 75 minutes a week.

Taking a walk, riding your bike, playing a team sport, or taking a group fitness class will increase your heart rate while raising HDL (“good”) cholesterol. Push yourself, if you can, but keep in mind that moderate exercise is better than none at all.

You can have borderline high cholesterol and be at a healthy weight. But if you’re overweight, losing those extra pounds can help bring your cholesterol level back down.

Losing as little as 5% of your body weight can lower your cholesterol levels. One study found that adults who took part in a 12-week exercise program lowered their LDL by 18 points, and their total cholesterol dropped 26 points.

With a combination of weight loss and a healthy diet, it’s possible to lower LDL levels up to 30% – results that are similar to taking cholesterol-lowering drugs.

If you’re not sure whether your weight is in a healthy place, ask your doctor to check your body mass index (BMI). A normal BMI is 18 to 25. If your BMI is 25 or higher, ask your doctor for advice on the best types of physical activity for you.

If you smoke, kicking the habit can help raise your HDL (“good”) cholesterol up to 10%.

Have you tried to quit smoking before? For many people, it takes a couple of tries. Keep trying until it sticks. It’s worth it, for your whole body’s health.

During regular screening appointments, your doctor will check your cholesterol levels to see if the changes you’ve made have gotten you to your cholesterol goal.

If lifestyle changes aren’t enough to lower borderline high cholesterol, your doctor may talk to you about medication.

Top Picks

What It Is and What to Do About It

Written by Jodi Helmer

• Cholesterol Tests
• Make Changes in the Kitchen
• Read Food Labels
• Get Moving
• Lose Extra Weight
• Quit Smoking
• Check to See What’s Working
• More

Has your doctor told you that you have “borderline” high cholesterol? That means your cholesterol level is above normal but not quite in the “high” range.

You have borderline high cholesterol if your total cholesterol is between 200 and 239 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL).

Your doctor will also consider other things, like how much of your total cholesterol is LDL (“bad”) cholesterol and how much of it is HDL (“good”) cholesterol.

Making simple changes in your lifestyle is often enough to bring borderline cholesterol levels down to the normal range. Some people may also need to take medicine for it. And keep in mind that other things, like diabetes, high blood pressure, and smoking, also affect your heart health; it’s not just about cholesterol.

If you have borderline cholesterol, your doctor will decide whether you need treatment by looking at these and other risk factors for heart disease. They may ask you to get an imaging test of your heart called a coronary artery calcium (CAC) scan. This test reveals whether dangerous plaque has built up in your heart’s arteries.

You won’t know you have borderline cholesterol unless you get a cholesterol blood test. You should do that every 5 years.

The average American has a total cholesterol level of 200, which is in the borderline range.

You can turn it around before you get high cholesterol. Start with these steps.

Why Do I Need a Cholesterol Test?

Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance. Your liver makes all the cholesterol your body needs. But you take in more cholesterol from certain foods, such as those from animals. If you have too much cholesterol in your body, it can build up in the walls of your arteries (as “plaque”) and eventually harden. This process, called atherosclerosis, actually narrows the arteries, making it harder for blood to travel through them. 

Unfortunately, high cholesterol doesn’t cause symptoms. In later stages of atherosclerosis, though, you may have angina – severe chest pain from lack of blood flow to the heart. If an artery gets totally blocked, a heart attack results. A routine blood cholesterol test is a far better way of finding out what your cholesterol level is.

What Does a Cholesterol Test Measure?

In addition to measuring the total cholesterol in your blood, the standard cholesterol test (called a “lipid panel”) measures three specific kinds of fat:

Low-density lipoproteins (LDL). This is the “bad cholesterol,” the main cause of plaque buildup, which increases your risk of heart disease. In general, the lower the number, the better. But LDL cholesterol is only one part of a larger equation that measures a person’s overall risk of having a heart attack or stroke. 

For years, guidelines focused on specific target numbers for people to achieve to lower their risk. The most recent guidelines focus on a person’s overall risk and, based on that risk, recommend a certain percentage of LDL reduction as one part of a way to prevent serious heart and blood vessel problems.

High-density lipoproteins (HDL). This is the “good cholesterol.” It transports bad cholesterol from the blood to the liver, where it is excreted by the body. Your HDL is another part of the equation that identifies the risk of a cardiovascular event. In general, the higher the number the better, although, as with LDL, the emphasis has shifted from specific target numbers to ways to reduce the overall risk.

Triglycerides. Another type of fat in the bloodstream, triglycerides are also linked to heart disease. They are stored in fat cells throughout the body.

What Do Cholesterol Test Numbers Mean?

If you have a lipoprotein profile, it’s important to look at all the numbers from the cholesterol test, not just the total cholesterol number. That’s because LDL and HDL levels are two top signs of potential heart disease. Use the information below to interpret your results (with the help of your doctor, of course). This will help you get a better idea about your risk for heart disease.

Total blood cholesterol level:

• High risk: 240 mg/dL and above
• Borderline high risk: 200-239 mg/dL
• Desirable: Less than 200 mg/dL

LDL cholesterol levels:

190 mg/dL and above represents a high risk for heart disease and is a strong sign that you can benefit from intensive treatment, including lifestyle changes, diet, and statin therapy for reducing that risk.

For LDL levels that are equal to or less than 189 mg/dL, the guidelines recommend strategies for lowering LDL by 30% to 50%, depending on what other risk factors you have that can affect the health of your heart and blood vessels.

HDL cholesterol:

• High risk: Less than 40 mg/dL for men and less than 50 mg/dL for women

Triglycerides:

• Very high risk: 500 mg/dL and above
• High risk: 200-499 mg/dL
• Borderline high risk: 150-199 mg/dL
• Normal: Less than 150 mg/dL

Use your diet to help lower your LDL cholesterol and raise your HDL cholesterol.

For the biggest impact, choose foods that are low in saturated fats and trans fats, and high in fiber, antioxidants, and omega-3 fatty acids. Whole grains, beans, apples, pears, oatmeal, salmon, walnuts, and olive oil are excellent heart-healthy choices.

Here are some more diet tips to help you lower your cholesterol:

Make meat lean. Cut back on red meats that are high in saturated fat and cholesterol, and choose only lean meats with very little visible fat. Examples of lean beef include London broil, eye of round, and filet mignon. Avoid processed meats like bacon and sausage, which are linked to higher odds of heart disease and diabetes.

Remove skin from poultry. That’s where much of the fat is.

Eat more seafood. It usually has less fat than other meat. The American Heart Association recommends eating two servings of fatty fish (like salmon, tuna, or mackerel) each week for heart health. Those fish are good sources of omega-3 fatty acids, which are good for you.

Limit saturated fat. These are found in whole-fat dairy products, mayonnaise, and hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils or fats (such as stick margarine). These products may also contain trans fats, which can raise your cholesterol level.

Go liquid. For cooking, replace saturated fats that are solid at room temperature (such as butter and shortening) with liquid monounsaturated fats such as olive, canola, and flaxseed oils. There’s evidence that eating moderate amounts of monounsaturated fat – found in such foods as nuts, seeds, and avocados – may lower LDL cholesterol.

Add fiber with plant foods. Good sources include grapefruit, apples, beans and other legumes, barley, carrots, cabbage, and oatmeal.

Get two daily servings of plant sterol-rich foods. These foods, such as nuts, can help lower cholesterol. Plant sterols are also added to some soft margarines, granola bars, yogurts, and orange juice.

You need to know how much saturated fat, trans fat, and cholesterol are in your favorite foods. That can help you make better choices.

Too much saturated fat can drive up your cholesterol level. It’s found mostly in animal products. Cholesterol also is found in animal products. Your doctor or a dietitian can let you know what your daily limit should be.

Artificial trans fats can raise your LDL (“bad”) cholesterol. They’re in packaged foods, like some crackers, cookies, pastries, and microwave popcorn.

Check the nutrition label. And because products marked “0 grams” of trans fats per serving can have up to a gram of trans fats, check the ingredients label, too. Anything marked “partially hydrogenated” is trans fat.

Exercise helps you get your cholesterol down from the borderline range.

Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise, such as brisk walking, per day (150 minutes each week). You can also do a more intense workout for 75 minutes a week.

Taking a walk, riding your bike, playing a team sport, or taking a group fitness class will increase your heart rate while raising HDL (“good”) cholesterol. Push yourself, if you can, but keep in mind that moderate exercise is better than none at all.

You can have borderline high cholesterol and be at a healthy weight. But if you’re overweight, losing those extra pounds can help bring your cholesterol level back down.

Losing as little as 5% of your body weight can lower your cholesterol levels. One study found that adults who took part in a 12-week exercise program lowered their LDL by 18 points, and their total cholesterol dropped 26 points.

With a combination of weight loss and a healthy diet, it’s possible to lower LDL levels up to 30% – results that are similar to taking cholesterol-lowering drugs.

If you’re not sure whether your weight is in a healthy place, ask your doctor to check your body mass index (BMI). A normal BMI is 18 to 25. If your BMI is 25 or higher, ask your doctor for advice on the best types of physical activity for you.

If you smoke, kicking the habit can help raise your HDL (“good”) cholesterol up to 10%.

Have you tried to quit smoking before? For many people, it takes a couple of tries. Keep trying until it sticks. It’s worth it, for your whole body’s health.

During regular screening appointments, your doctor will check your cholesterol levels to see if the changes you’ve made have gotten you to your cholesterol goal.

If lifestyle changes aren’t enough to lower borderline high cholesterol, your doctor may talk to you about medication.

Top Picks

Analysis for HDL cholesterol (High Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol) to pass in Birobidzhan

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Description

Method of determination
Homogeneous enzymatic colorimetric.

Test material
Blood serum

Synonyms : High density lipoproteins; HDL; HDL; HDL cholesterol; alpha cholesterol; α-cholesterol. High density lipoprotein cholesterol; high density lipoprotein; Alpha-Lipoprotein Cholesterol; α-lipoprotein cholesterol; α-Lp cholesterol; HDL; HDL-C; HDL Cholesterol.

Brief description of the analyte Cholesterol-HDL

Blood lipoproteins transport lipids, including cholesterol, from one cell population to another. Unlike other lipoproteins, high-density lipoproteins (HDL) carry cholesterol from the cells of peripheral organs (including heart vessels, brain arteries, etc.) to the liver, where cholesterol is converted into bile acids and excreted from the body. In women, on average, HDL values ​​are higher than in men.

The level of HDL cholesterol in combination with data on existing diseases, age, gender, blood pressure, the fact of smoking, is taken into account when assessing the individual risk of developing severe complications of cardiovascular diseases (myocardial infarction or stroke) in the modified SCORE (Systematic COronary Risk Evaluation) scale ).

High HDL cholesterol is considered to be a beneficial anti-atherogenic factor that reduces cardiovascular risk. Low HDL cholesterol reflects the risk of premature atherosclerosis, a high risk of cardiovascular disease, and is often associated with hypertriglyceridemia in metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes mellitus.

For more information on the laboratory assessment of lipid metabolism parameters, please click here.

What is the purpose of determining the level of total HDL-cholesterol in blood serum? Increased levels are associated with a lower risk of atherosclerosis.

What can affect the HDL cholesterol test result

A change in diet can reduce blood cholesterol levels by 10-15%, although sensitivity to changes in dietary cholesterol levels and the effect of diet on cholesterol levels can be expressed differently in different people. To reduce the risk of complications of cardiovascular diseases, it is recommended to maintain the concentration of total cholesterol in the blood below 5.0 mmol / l. The therapeutic goal of lipid-lowering therapy is to lower LDL cholesterol levels.

Disorders of cholesterol metabolism, accompanied by an increase in its content in the blood, are characteristic of hypothyroidism. Secondary hypercholesterolemia is also observed in hepatic cholestasis, nephrotic syndrome, chronic renal failure, gout, diabetes and other diseases. Before starting therapy with lipid-lowering drugs, diseases that lead to an increase in cholesterol levels should be excluded.

Cholesterol level reflects the activity of synthesis processes in the liver. In severe liver damage, there is a significant decrease in the concentration of cholesterol in the blood. Acute tissue injury also causes a marked drop in total and LDL cholesterol levels. It begins within the first day after a heart attack, surgery or septicemia and can reach a 40% reduction from baseline. Lipid levels do not return to normal for up to three months. Therefore, a lipid study to assess the risk of atherosclerosis should not be performed within three months after acute conditions.

More details about the laboratory assessment of lipid metabolism parameters can be found here.

Preparation

Rules for preparing for a blood test to determine the level of HDL-Cholesterol

Strictly on an empty stomach, after an overnight fasting period of 8 to 14 hours. On the eve of the study, it is necessary to exclude increased psycho-emotional and physical activity (sports training), alcohol intake.

Indications for prescription

In what cases is a blood test to determine the level of HDL-Cholesterol

• Assessment of the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases and their complications according to the modified SCORE scale.
• Atherosclerosis risk assessment.
• Detection of dyslipidemias.

Interpretation of results

Interpretation of test results contains information for the attending physician and is not a diagnosis. The information in this section should not be used for self-diagnosis or self-treatment. An accurate diagnosis is made by the doctor, using both the results of this examination and the necessary information from other sources: history, results of other examinations, etc.

Interpretation of the results of determining the level of Cholesterol-HDL in blood serum

Units of measurement : mmol / l.

Alternate units : mg/dl.

Unit conversion : mg/dL x 0.026 ==> mmol/L.

Adults. When assessing cardiac risk, an HDL cholesterol level greater than 1.0 mmol/L in men and greater than 1.2 mmol/L in women indicates low risk. Low HDL cholesterol levels are associated with higher cardiovascular risk.

Reference values ​​ (population dispersion) HDL cholesterol concentrations for children and adolescents

9 0594

For the population dispersion of HDL cholesterol values ​​in adults,

, see here .

Increased level

1. Primary hereditary hypercholesterolemia (type IA and type IIB hyperlipoproteinemia).
2. Obesity.
3. Obstructive jaundice.
4. Nephrotic syndrome, chronic renal failure.
5. Diabetes mellitus.
6. Hypothyroidism.
7. Cushing’s syndrome.
8. Cholesterol-rich diet.
9. Pregnancy.
10. Anorexia nervosa.
11. Taking medications (beta-blockers, diuretics, progestins, oral contraceptives, glucocorticoids, androgens).

Level reduction

1. Atherosclerosis.
2. Familial hypo-alpha-lipoproteinemia (Tangier’s disease).
3. Cholestasis, chronic liver disease.
4. Nephrotic syndrome, chronic renal failure.
5. Diabetes mellitus.
6. Obesity.
7. Smoking.
8. Taking medications: beta-blockers, danazol, diuretics, progestins, androgens.
9. Diet rich in carbohydrates or polyunsaturated fatty acids.

Questions

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In this section you can find out how much it costs to complete this study in your city, read the description of the test and the table for interpreting the results. When choosing where to take an analysis of “HDL-Cholesterol (High Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol, HDL Cholesterol)” in Birobidzhan and other cities of Russia, do not forget that the price of the analysis, the cost of the procedure for taking biomaterial, methods and terms for performing studies in regional medical offices may differ.

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    90 017 Viral infections
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    9 0017 Calculated tests based on SteatoScreen results without blood sampling
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  • Form of study results in English

• • Blood
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• • Endoscopy
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• • Examinations we do not do
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    • Testosterone: diagnostic threshold, method-dependent reference values ​​
    • Laboratory assessment of lipid metabolism parameters in INVITRO
    • Lipid profile: fasting or not fasting

The cost of analyzes is indicated without taking biomaterial

All sections

Description

Method of determination
Enzymatic (CHOD-PAP).

Test material
Blood serum

Synonyms: Cholesterol, cholesterol. Blood cholesterol, Cholesterol, Chol, Cholesterol total.

Brief characteristics of the analyte Total cholesterol

About 80% of all cholesterol is synthesized by the human body (liver, intestines, kidneys, adrenal glands, gonads), the remaining 20% ​​comes from food of animal origin (meat, butter, eggs). Cholesterol is insoluble in water; it is transported in the blood in lipoprotein complexes. There are fractions of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL), very-low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL), and some others that differ in composition and functions. Total cholesterol includes cholesterol contained in all types of circulating lipoproteins, esterified and free.

The content of cholesterol in the blood depends to a large extent on age. Its level at birth is less than 3.0 mmol / l, then gradually increases. Emerging differences in its concentration are associated with gender. In men, the concentration of cholesterol in the blood increases in early and middle age and decreases in old age. In women, cholesterol levels increase more slowly with age, up to menopause; in the future may exceed cholesterol levels in men. The described age-related changes in the content of cholesterol in the blood are associated with the action of sex hormones: estrogens reduce, and androgens increase the level of total cholesterol. During pregnancy, there is a physiological increase in total cholesterol levels.

Determination of cholesterol is mainly used to assess the risk of developing atherosclerosis and in the diagnosis of any kind of lipid metabolism disorders. It has been established that elevated blood cholesterol levels contribute to the development of vascular atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease. The level of total cholesterol in combination with data on existing diseases, age, gender, blood pressure, the fact of smoking, is taken into account when assessing the individual risk of developing severe complications of cardiovascular diseases (myocardial infarction or stroke) according to the SCORE (Systematic COronary Risk Evaluation) scale. It is advisable to investigate cholesterol in combination with the determination of triglycerides (see test No. 30), HDL cholesterol (see Test No. 32), the calculation of non-HDL cholesterol (see Test No. NHDL) and LDL cholesterol (see Test No. 33), since For a correct assessment of cardiovascular risks, it is important to understand the ratio of different fractions of lipoproteins. Thus, high HDL cholesterol indicates a low risk, and the detection of an increased concentration of triglycerides, in combination with a decrease in HDL, makes it possible to suspect certain pathological conditions (including metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance), which are themselves associated with increased cardiovascular risk.

What is the purpose of determining the level of total cholesterol in the blood? . To reduce the risk of complications of cardiovascular diseases, it is recommended to maintain the concentration of total cholesterol in the blood below 5.0 mmol / l. The therapeutic goal of lipid-lowering therapy is to lower LDL cholesterol levels.

Disorders of cholesterol metabolism, accompanied by an increase in its content in the blood, are characteristic of hypothyroidism. Secondary hypercholesterolemia is also observed in hepatic cholestasis, nephrotic syndrome, chronic renal failure, gout, diabetes and other diseases. Before starting therapy with lipid-lowering drugs, diseases that lead to an increase in cholesterol levels should be excluded.

Cholesterol level reflects the activity of synthesis processes in the liver. In severe liver damage, there is a significant decrease in the concentration of cholesterol in the blood. Acute tissue injury also causes a marked drop in total and LDL cholesterol levels. It begins within the first day after a heart attack, surgery or septicemia and can reach a 40% reduction from baseline. Lipid levels do not return to normal for up to three months. Therefore, a lipid study to assess the risk of atherosclerosis should not be performed within three months after acute conditions.

More details about the laboratory assessment of lipid metabolism parameters can be found here.

Preparation

Rules for preparation for the study Cholesterol total

Strictly on an empty stomach, after a night fasting period of 8 to 14 hours. On the eve of the study, it is necessary to exclude increased psycho-emotional and physical activity (sports training), alcohol intake.

Indications for prescription

In what cases is a blood test for Cholesterol total

• Assessment of the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases and their complications using the SCORE scale.
• Determining the type of dyslipidemia.
• The choice of therapeutic tactics.
• As part of biochemical profiles to assess metabolic changes in a patient.

Interpretation of results

Interpretation of test results contains information for the attending physician and is not a diagnosis. The information in this section should not be used for self-diagnosis or self-treatment. An accurate diagnosis is made by the doctor, using both the results of this examination and the necessary information from other sources: history, results of other examinations, etc.

Interpretation of the results of the study on total cholesterol in the blood

Units of measurement: mmol / l.

Alternate units: mg/dl.

Unit conversion: mg/dL x 0.026 ==> mmol/L.

Adults. Desired level

Reference values ​​ (population dispersion) concentrations of total cholesterol for children and adolescents, mmol/l:

Age	Men	Women
	2. 95 – 5.25	2.90 – 5.18
5 – 10 years	3.13 – 5.25	2.26 – 5.30
10 – 15 years	3.08 – 5.23	3.21 – 5.20
15 – 18 years	2.93 – 5.10	3.08 – 5.18

Data on the population dispersion of total cholesterol values ​​in adults –

see here.

Elevation (hypercholesterolemia)

Primary hyperlipidemias: combined hyperlipidemia, hyperlipoproteinemia types I, IV, V and hyper-alpha-lipoproteinemia.

Secondary hyperlipidaemias:

1. Liver diseases, intra- and extrahepatic cholestasis.
2. Glomerulonephritis, nephrotic syndrome, chronic renal failure.
3. Malignant tumors of the pancreas and prostate.
4. Hypothyroidism.
5. Gout.
6. Ischemic heart disease.
7. Diabetes mellitus.
8. Pregnancy.
9. Alcoholism.
10. Isolated somatotropic hormone (GH) deficiency.
11. Food rich in cholesterol and unsaturated fatty acids.
12. Use of drugs such as androgens, cyclosporine, diuretics, ergocalciferol (high doses), glucocorticosteroids, levodopa, amiodarone.

Decreased level (hypocholesterolemia)

1. Cachexia, starvation.
2. Malabsorption syndrome.
3. Major burns.
4. Severe acute diseases and infections.
5. Hepatocyte necrosis, end-stage liver cirrhosis, hepatocarcinoma.
6. Sepsis.
7. Hyperthyroidism.
8. Hypo-alpha- and beta-lipoproteinemia.
9. α-lipoprotein deficiency.
10. Megaloblastic anemia.
11. Thalassemia.
12. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
13. Rheumatoid arthritis.
14. Intestinal lymphangiectasia.
15. Taking cholesterol-lowering drugs.