What Is Cholesterol Screening and Why You Should Get It Done Regularly

We all know that increased cholesterol is bad for our health as it causes life-threatening diseases. We have heard that high cholesterol is harmful for heart health. However, there are two types of cholesterol, good cholesterol or HDL and bad cholesterol or LDL. Of these, good cholesterol is beneficial for your body while bad cholesterol keeps the body at risk of many diseases. Cholesterol screening test is an examination of cholesterol levels in the blood. In this test, the levels of both HDL and LDL present in the blood are tested. Let us tell you what is cholesterol screening test, cholesterol test purpose and why it is necessary to get it done at regular intervals.

What is cholesterol screening?

The cholesterol screening test tests both HDL and LDL levels in the blood. It is good to get a cholesterol screening test done for the first time at the age of 20 years. After this, by doing this test once every five years, you can monitor the level of cholesterol. However, how long after this you have to be tested depends on the level of investigation. If the blood cholesterol level is higher than normal or you have a family history of heart diseases in your family, then the doctor may recommend a test every 2 or 6 months.

Cholesterol Test Purpose and Its Importance

Cholesterol is the fat produced by the liver. To keep our body functioning properly, it is necessary to have cholesterol. Cholesterol is necessary for the life of every cell in the body. An excessive amount of cholesterol can cause many types of diseases to the body. Cholesterol levels are higher than normal due to major heart diseases. Therefore, by checking the cholesterol periodically, you can know whether you are at risk of heart disease. Apart from this, through this test you can also know when you need to reduce cholesterol.

Also Read: Eating Two Apples A Day, Keeps Cholesterol Away

The Right cholesterol level

How a person's health will be depends to a large extent on the amount of cholesterol in his blood. Cholesterol levels in the blood range between 3.6 millimoles per liter to 7.8 millimoles per liter. 6 millimoles per liter of cholesterol are classified as high cholesterol. In these circumstances the risk of arterial diseases increases. Cholesterol in excess of 7.8 millimoles per liter is called extremely high cholesterol. You will never want to get into this situation. In these circumstances, the risk of heart attack and stroke also increases significantly.

Also Read: Some Proven Tips To Prevent Heart Palpitations

Tips To Control Cholesterol

Living a healthy and active life is the key to keep cholesterol under control. Those who eat healthy and maintain physical activeness levels are highly unlikely to have disturbed cholesterol levels. Here are some tips to manage your cholesterol:

• Control obesity and weight gain
• Do at least 30 minutes of physical activity daily. You can do brisk walk, jog, running, cycling rope skipping, dancing or play any sport of your liking.
• Avoid fatty foods. Consume only fresh and healthy foods.
• If your cholesterol increases, immediately consult your doctor and follow the guidelines. Following the aforesaid symptoms would take care of the rest.

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