Cholesterol Testing

Cholesterol is essential to help the body to create and maintain healthy cells and some hormones. About 80% of cholesterol is made by the liver, and the other 20 % comes from the food you eat. However, too much cholesterol can lead to the build up of plaque inside of the blood vessels; making it harder for the blood to flow through. This puts you at an increased risk for high blood pressure and having a heart attack or stroke.

Checking Cholesterol Levels

In most cases having too much cholesterol does not produce any symptoms; the only way to know if you have high cholesterol is through
a blood test. Getting your cholesterol checked provides information about your risk for developing heart disease, and helps you make changes to your physical activity levels and eating habits.

Remember: you are not allowed any food, beverages, or medications approximately 9 to 12 hours before the test. This is in order to obtain more accurate results.(3)

Cholesterol Level Factors

According to the Dietitians of Canada, several factors can influence the levels of cholesterol in the body.

Factors Include:
-medical history
-genetic background
-gender
-age

Understanding Results

The blood test gives information about total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and triglycerides. In Canada the results are given in millimoles per liter (mmol/L).(4)

Total Cholesterol

-measures the amount of cholesterol in the blood (both HDL and LDL).(4)
-Canadian Heart and Stroke recommends aiming to be less than 5.2 mmol/l

LDL (low density lipoprotein)

-also known as “lousy cholesterol”
-LDL comes from a diet high in saturated and trans fats.
-Having too much LDL can result in plaque building up inside of blood vessels; which restricts the flow of blood and can lead to a heart attack or stroke.(3)
-Canadian Heart and Stroke recommends aiming for less than 3.5 mmol/L.(4)