Vital laboratory package Total Plus includes 37 values and is an even more comprehensive health check for those who seek a deeper insight into their body’s well-being and greater opportunities to make better choices to improve their health.
Cholesterol tells you about the health of your blood vessels
The total cholesterol measurement shows the total cholesterol value in the blood.
Cholesterol
- Human body produces cholesterol on its own but it is also obtained through food.
- There are both good and bad types of cholesterol, and at normal levels cholesterol is essential for our body.
- Elevated cholesterol levels increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
- Blood tests identify elevated cholesterol levels, enabling appropriate treatment.
What is cholesterol?
Cholesterol is a fat-like substance found naturally in every cell of the body. The human body produces cholesterol on its own but it is also obtained through food.
The body is not able to break down cholesterol. It is removed from the body by the liver secreting cholesterol into the bile, either as such or converted into bile acids. Some of the cholesterol is removed from the body in the stool and some is absorbed from the intestine back into the bloodstream.
There are both good and bad types of cholesterol, and at normal levels cholesterol is essential for our body.
Elevated cholesterol increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
What does total cholesterol mean?
The cholesterol measurement shows the total cholesterol value in the blood.
There are both good and bad types of cholesterol. LDL cholesterol is the primary measure of “bad” cholesterol and HDL cholesterol is the primary measure of “good” cholesterol.
The triglyceride test measures the amount of fats circulating in the blood. Calories that the body does not consume immediately are stored in fat tissue as triglycerides.
Cholesterol is not water-soluble, so it cannot be transported in the bloodstream as such. Cholesterol must become water-soluble, at which point it gets enclosed within transport proteins called lipoproteins and is then carried throughout the body in the bloodstream.
Lipoproteins contain four components: cholesterol, triglycerides, phospholipids, and protein.
Total cholesterol is divided into categories that differ in their function, size, density, and composition.
- VLDL, or very low-density lipoproteins, are produced by the liver and released into the bloodstream. VLDL particles transport triglyceride, which is a fatty substance, to tissues. VLDL and LDL cholesterol are called “bad” cholesterol because they can contribute to the formation of blockages in arteries.
- LDL, or low-density lipoproteins, transport the majority of blood cholesterol and help cholesterol to move from the bloodstream to tissues. Excess cholesterol remains in the bloodstream and can accumulate in the walls of arteries, narrowing them. Thus LDL cholesterol is also referred to as “bad” cholesterol.
- HDL, or high-density lipoproteins, transport cholesterol away from tissues and artery walls back to the liver where it is broken down. HDL cholesterol is known as “good” cholesterol.
High cholesterol levels
The most common cause of high cholesterol (LDL) is a diet excessively rich in saturated fats. Avoiding hard fats, exercising and avoiding excess weight can affect the quantity and quality of total cholesterol in the body. Opt for soft vegetary fats.
If there is excess LDL cholesterol in the body, it can build up in the arterial walls and lead to a blood clot in coronary or brain arteries. Therefore, it is important to take elevated cholesterol seriously and start monitoring your cholesterol levels regularly.
What are the risk factors for high cholesterol?
Elevated cholesterol is also associated with factors beyond our control. These include age, gender and genetic predisposition.
- Gender. Women’s cholesterol levels often increase after menopause.
- Age may increase the risk of elevated cholesterol. Men aged 45 and older and women aged 55 and older are at risk of high cholesterol.
- Genetic predisposition. The risk of elevated cholesterol may increase if the person’s family member, such as father (before the age of 55) or mother (before the age of 65), suffers from early-onset heart disease.
Elevated cholesterol can also be caused by other factors
Cholesterol can also be elevated in the following situations:
- diabetes
- liver or kidney disease
- hypothyroidism
- polycystic ovarian syndrome
- pregnancy or other life situation that increases the amount of oestrogen or other female hormones in the body
- the use of drugs that increase LDL cholesterol and reduce the amount of HDL cholesterol in the body (progesterone, anabolic steroids and corticosteroids).
In addition, smoking reduces the amount of HDL cholesterol. Quitting smoking is always a good idea.
Symptoms of high cholesterol
High cholesterol is a major risk factor for other more serious diseases but does not in itself usually cause any symptoms. Therefore, high cholesterol cannot be felt or discovered except by measuring the values with laboratory tests.
Regular blood tests will help to identify elevated cholesterol, enabling appropriate treatment.
How can high cholesterol be treated?
Elevated cholesterol is often related to a person’s lifestyle, which is why lowering it begins with changes in diet and daily habits.
- In nutrition, attention is paid to the amount and quality of fats, as well as the sufficient amount of dietary fiber.
- In addition, adding exercise to everyday life can increase the amount of good (HDL) cholesterol in the body.
- Quitting smoking is also an important change as smoking lowers the levels of good cholesterol.
The harmfulness of cholesterol depends on simultaneous factors that damage blood vessels, such as smoking, high blood pressure, and lack of physical activity.
If a healthy person does not have other risk factors, such as hereditary diseases, and their cholesterol levels remain at the recommended level, the primary solution is to lower cholesterol through diet and lifestyle changes.
If a person’s risk of arterial disease is clearly increased, it is even more important to lower their cholesterol levels. This applies to diabetics or asymptomatic individuals who, according to the risk calculator, have a 10% chance of developing coronary artery disease or having a stroke within the next 10 years. Medication is considered to support self-treatment.
The risk is highest in a person who have already been diagnosed with an arterial disease or additional disorders related to diabetes or whose result in the risk calculator is more than 15%. In that case, it is important to lower the person’s cholesterol levels with medication.
Treatment of high cholesterol with dietary choices
Diet affects blood cholesterol levels, especially LDL cholesterol. The tips below can help you prevent and treat elevated cholesterol.
Remember to pay attention to the quality and quantity of dietary fats. The quality of fats obtained from food is good when it mostly consists of soft vegetary fats.
Get started with small steps: replacing products high in hard fats with products high in soft vegetable fats, and making sure that your meals consist of diverse, colourful and fiber-rich foods.
Common sources of hard fats include:
- dairy products
- fatty meat
- animal products
- sausages and similar products
- baked goods
- unhealthy snacks
- ultra-processed foods
The amount of hard fats can be reduced by switching from animal fats to soft vegetable fats.
Vegetable oils, such as olive oil and rapeseed oil, are great sources of soft fats.
Tips to help you reduce the amount of hard fats and increase the amount of soft fats in your diet:
- Reduce the use of animal products, especially animal fats. If you use animal products, choose low-fat products.
- Opt for lean meats, such as chicken and turkey.
- Opt for fatty fish, such as salmon and sardines.
- Avoid ultra-processed foods, such as hamburgers and unhealthy snacks.
- Opt for nuts and seeds as a source of vegetable fats.
- Opt for vegetable oils and liquid vegetable oil products.
- Don’t forget fiber and vegetables. Increase your overall consumption of plant-based foods.
Treatment of high cholesterol with medication
Medication is considered if diet and lifestyle changes do not reduce cholesterol levels sufficiently.
In addition to cholesterol levels, the decision to start medication is affected by:
- overall risk of arterial disease
- elevated blood pressure
- smoking.
What is FH?
FH, or familial hypercholesterolemia, is a cholesterol-increasing disease caused by a gene mutation. The disease is predominantly inherited, meaning that 50% of the children of those suffering from FH will also have the disease.
In FH, the cholesterol value is often more than 10 mmol/L, but the value can also be lower. With FH, diet and lifestyle do not affect the cholesterol level. The disease is treated with medication. If left untreated, the disease can lead to early-onset coronary heart disease.
How can I get my cholesterol tested?
The amount and quality of cholesterol can be measured with blood tests. In the measurement of total cholesterol, the blood cholesterol level is examined.
The measurement of cholesterol (lipids or fat values) can consist of various components, common values that are analyzed include:
- Total cholesterol
- Triglycerides
- LDL cholesterol
- HDL cholesterol
Check out the Vital´s laboratory packages, which include cholesterol measurement.
The cholesterol measurement is included in the following test packages:
- Vital laboratory package Basic
- Vital laboratory package Total
- Vital laboratory package Total Plus
- Vital laboratory package Sport Woman
- Vital laboratory package Sport Man
- Vital laboratory package Woman 50+
- Vital laboratory package Man 50+
FAQ
Cholesterol medications, such as statins, reduce the liver’s production of cholesterol and increase its removal from the bloodstream, which lowers blood cholesterol level
To reduce triglycerides, healthy lifestyles are recommended, such as regular exercise, reducing alcohol consumption, a healthy diet rich in fiber and low in saturated fats, and medication as directed by a doctor if necessary.
The condition of the blood vessels is often examined with ultrasound, which provides information about the structure of the vessels and blood flow. Blood pressure measurement and blood tests that measure cholesterol and other risk factors for cardiovascular diseases are also important.
An adult should consume less than 200 mg of cholesterol per day from the diet.
Cholesterol is too high when total cholesterol is over 5 mmol/l, LDL cholesterol over 3 mmol/l, or HDL cholesterol is below 1 mmol/l for men and below 1,2 mmol/l for women.
Cholesterol can be lowered by eating healthily, reducing the intake of saturated fats and cholesterol, increasing the amount of fiber-rich foods in the diet, and regular physical activity.
LDL cholesterol is considered too high when its concentration in the blood exceeds 3 mmol/L. High LDL levels increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases, so managing them is important for health.
It is recommended that cholesterol be measured at least once every five years for healthy adults. Those in risk groups and those on cholesterol medication should have their cholesterol measured more frequently.
Prevention of cardiovascular diseases includes healthy lifestyle habits: a balanced diet, regular exercise, quitting smoking, and moderate alcohol consumption. It is also important to regularly monitor blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and blood sugar.
Cholesterol is eliminated from the body through the liver, which converts it into bile. Bile aids in the digestion of fats and is expelled from the body with the feces.
Cholesterol levels can rise quickly, even within a few days, if the diet includes a lot of foods high in cholesterol and saturated fats.
Coronary artery disease is usually diagnosed with a cardiac stress test, ECG (electrocardiogram), and blood tests that measure cardiac markers. Sometimes imaging studies such as heart ultrasound or computed tomography are also used.
LDL cholesterol can be lowered by reducing the amount of saturated fats and cholesterol in the diet, increasing fiber, and engaging in regular physical activity.
Peripheral arterial disease in the lower extremities is typically diagnosed through a clinical examination conducted by a doctor and various diagnostic tests. The most common tests include the ankle-brachial index (ABI), which measures blood pressure in the ankle and arm, and Doppler ultrasound, which assesses blood flow in the arteries. More detailed imaging methods such as angiography may also be used if necessary to provide a detailed view of the condition of the vessels.
Total cholesterol is calculated by adding together the HDL, LDL, and 20 percent of the triglyceride value. This provides an overview of the blood cholesterol levels.
Cholesterol medication can be started when lifestyle changes are not sufficient to lower high cholesterol levels and the person has an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases.
HDL cholesterol can be increased by adding healthy fats to the diet, such as nuts, olive oil, and fatty fish, as well as regular aerobic exercise.
Cholesterol levels can start to drop within a few weeks of lifestyle changes, such as dietary changes and increased physical activity. With medication, changes can be seen even faster.
1290 kr
Vital laboratory package Total includes 29 values and is a great choice when you want to gain more thorough information about the well-being of your body.
190 kr
Elevated cholesterol increases the risk of atherosclerosis. Therefore, it is important to take elevated cholesterol seriously.
Vital laboratory package Basic includes 21 values that give you a wide range of information on how your body is doing. It includes blood count, cholesterol levels, blood glucose, ferritin and studies of the functioning of the thyroid gland, liver and kidneys.
Information Article
ApoA1 is a marker for “good” cholesterol
Apolipoprotein A1 (ApoA1) is a carrier protein that helps transport HDL cholesterol (also known as good cholesterol) as well as other harmful fat molecules in the blood.
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HDL is a “good” cholesterol
Studies show that HDL cholesterol, or “good cholesterol”, is linked to better vascular health.
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LDL is a “bad” cholesterol
The LDL cholesterol level shows the amount of harmful cholesterol in the blood.
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Apolipoprotein B (ApoB) is a risk marker for cardiovascular disease
Apolipoprotein B (ApoB) is a carrier protein that helps transport LDL cholesterol (also known as “bad” cholesterol) as well as other harmful fat molecules in the blood.
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Triglycerides are sources of energy
Elevated triglyceride levels rarely need to be lowered with medication, as changing lifestyle habits is the primary treatment.
Information Article
Long-term glucose levels, hemoglobin A1C, B-HbA1c
Hemoglobin A1C indicates the glycated hemoglobin (long-term glucose levels) in the blood. Hemoglobin A1C, or glycated hemoglobin, shows your average blood glucose levels over the previous 2–8 weeks.
Article updated:
23 October 2024