What is Cholesterol test LDL?

Cholesterol Test LDL Quick Guide

Cholesterol is a fat-like substance that can be found throughout your body and in your blood. There are different types of cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol because too much of it can clog your arteries and form plaque.
The LDL cholesterol test assesses the amount of LDL cholesterol in your blood. This test helps inform you and your doctor of your risk for heart disease, stroke, diabetes and other health conditions. A cholesterol test can also be used to assess whether high cholesterol treatments are effective.

What is Cholesterol test LDL?

Cholesterol test ldl is often called "bad" cholesterol because it collects in the walls of blood vessels and increases the chance of health problems such as heart attacks or strokes.

But cholesterol isn't always dangerous. Your body needs it to protect its nerves and make healthy cells and hormones.

Some cholesterol comes from the foods you eat, and your liver produces more. It doesn't dissolve in the blood, so proteins carry it where it needs to go. These carriers are called lipoproteins.

LDL is a small piece that consists of the outer edge of the lipoprotein and the cholesterol center. Its full name is "low-density lipoprotein.

LDL and HDL Cholesterol: "Bad" and "Good" Cholesterol

Most of the cholesterol in your body is LDL. The rest is high-density lipoprotein (HDL) or "good" cholesterol. HDL carries LDL to your liver and then out of your body. High HDL levels can prevent heart attacks and strokes.

Cholesterol travels through the bloodstream via proteins called "lipoproteins". Two types of lipoproteins carry cholesterol throughout the body.

• LDL (low-density lipoprotein), sometimes called "bad" cholesterol, makes up most of your body's cholesterol. High levels of LDL cholesterol can increase the risk of heart disease and stroke.
• HDL (high-density lipoprotein), or "good" cholesterol, absorbs cholesterol and brings it back to the liver. The liver then flushes it out of the body. High levels of HDL cholesterol can reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke.

When your body has too much LDL cholesterol, the LDL cholesterol builds up in the walls of your blood vessels. This buildup is called "plaque. As your blood vessels build up plaque over time, the inside of your blood vessels become narrower. This narrowing prevents blood from flowing into and out of your heart and other organs. When blood flow to your heart is blocked, it can lead to angina (chest pain) or a heart attack.

Reduced risk

If your LDL cholesterol level is high, your healthcare team may recommend cholesterol-lowering medications and lifestyle changes to reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke.
If your HDL cholesterol levels are low, talk to your doctor about lifestyle changes that may help improve your levels.

Cholesterol Test High LDL Diagnosis

Cholesterol blood test can check your LDL, HDL and total cholesterol levels. It also measures triglycerides, which are fats that store extra energy from your diet. High triglyceride levels can make you more likely to develop heart problems.

Experts recommend getting tested every 4 to 6 years. You may need it more often if you have heart disease or diabetes, or if you have a family member with high cholesterol.

The fewer LDL cholesterol test results you have, the better. The general guidelines for adults in the United States are:
Less than 100 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL): optimal

• 100-129 mg/dL: near or above optimal
• 130-159 mg/dL: critically high
• 160-189 mg/dL: high
• 190 mg/dL and above: very high

If you have a medical condition such as heart disease or diabetes, your doctor may recommend an LDL goal of 70 mg/dL or lower.

Risk of Cholesterol Test High LDL

High LDL cholesterol levels can make you more likely to have:

• Coronary artery disease
• Peripheral artery disease
• Heart disease, including chest pain (angina) and heart attack
• Stroke

Guidelines for lowering "bad" cholesterol to a specific amount. Now, you and your doctor may work together to come up with a way to lower it by a certain percentage. It is based on your likelihood of having a heart attack or stroke.

Your doctor uses a calculator to estimate your chances of having these problems in the next 10 years. The calculator takes into account several things, including:

• Your cholesterol level
• Your age
• Your blood pressure
• Whether you smoke
• Whether you take blood pressure medication

All of these can affect your chances of developing heart disease. Other risks include:

• Diabetes
• A family history of heart disease

When should I get cholesterol test LDL?

LDL cholesterol testing can be used to assess your risk of cardiovascular disease or to monitor changes in cholesterol over time.

Your doctor will consider factors such as age, family history and other medical conditions when determining how often you should have your LDL cholesterol level checked.

Examples of common screening recommendations are outlined below:

DEMOGRAPHIC GROUP	RISK FACTORS	SCREENING FREQUENCY
Children	No risk factors	Once between ages 9-11; again between 17-21
Children	One or more	Every 1-3 years starting when risk factor is identified
Adolescents and Adults of Any Age	One or more	At least every 5 years; often more frequently based on specific risk factors
Males Age 20-45 Females Age 20-55	No risk factors	Every 4-6 years
Males Age 45-65 Females Age 55-65	No risk factors	Every 1-2 years
People Over 65	With or without risk factors	Annually

Having your cholesterol levels checked regularly gives your doctor the opportunity to notice any changes that may be harmful to your health. High or elevated cholesterol levels are a risk factor for diseases such as heart disease, diabetes or stroke.

If you or a family member has a history of heart disease, smoking, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, obesity, a sedentary lifestyle, or a high saturated fat diet, you test your cholesterol levels more regularly.

 

How to lower your high LDL cholesterol?

Your doctor will develop a lifestyle change and/or medication plan to lower your cholesterol levels and overall chances of heart disease. Your plan may include:

• Healthy eating habits. Try not to eat anything high in saturated fat, cholesterol, or simple carbohydrates (such as sugar and white flour). Eat more fiber and plant sterols, such as margarine or nuts.
• Exercise regularly. The kind that gets your heart rate up is the best.
• Lose weight. Losing even 5 to 10 pounds can improve your cholesterol levels.
• Quit smoking. If you're having a hard time quitting, your doctor can help you find the best plan for you.
• Medications. Some medications, such as statins, help prevent your body from making cholesterol. Another is ezetimibe (Zetia), which lowers the amount of cholesterol your body gets from the foods you eat. If you cannot take a statin or have severe high cholesterol, you may be able to get injections of PCSK9 inhibitors. These drugs can help your liver remove more LDL from your blood.

How to find a cholesterol test LDL?

Your doctor may order a cholesterol test to check your cholesterol levels. Measure cholesterol levels in your blood. A blood sample is usually collected at a doctor's office, hospital or other medical facility. After the blood sample is collected, it is sent to a lab for testing.

If you do not want to go to the hospital, you may choose a cholesterol test at home, which will make it easier for you to know your cholesterol.

How do I get cholesterol test LDL at home?

A home cholesterol test LDL can be used to measure calculated LDL cholesterol levels. Cholesterol testing at home uses a blood sample collected by a device that pricks your finger to obtain a small drop of blood that can be tested.
There are two types of home LDL tests that use a fingertip blood sample.

Self-test: In this test, your blood is analyzed at home. This can be done by placing a drop of blood on a piece of paper, which is then placed in a cholesterol meter. Another type of self-test uses chemically treated paper to indicate cholesterol levels in the blood.

Self-collection: For this type of test, your blood sample is collected at home and then sent to a lab for analysis.

For help determining if a home cholesterol test kit is right for you, it may be helpful to consult with your primary care physician or cardiologist. If the home cholesterol test kit reveals abnormal results, follow-up cholesterol testing is usually performed by your doctor.

How much does the cholesterol test LDL cost?

You may find it helpful to discuss the cost of cholesterol testing with your physician. The cost of a cholesterol test may depend on several factors.

• What type of cholesterol test is being performed
• Whether LDL is being calculated or measured
• Insurance coverage
• Where the test is being performed

Blood tests are usually covered by insurance when prescribed by your doctor, but you may be responsible for co-payments, deductibles or out-of-pocket expenses for technician fees.

But to compare, it's cheaper to test your cholesterol at home. You only need to buy a cholesterol meter and test strips to test your cholesterol multiple times. This is a much better way for people who need to test their cholesterol over time. Testing your cholesterol at home only consumes test strips, and they're very cheap!

References：

1. LDL & HDL: Good & Bad Cholesterol | cdc.gov

See also:

1. Cholesterol care