Why is an Early Cholesterol Test Important?

 Modern-day lifestyles come with acute stress and pressure, along with sedentary lifestyles that lead to several health concerns. High cholesterol levels are one of the direct implications of today’s lifestyle. It directly affects the heart health of a person. Getting your cholesterol level checked early is crucial to remaining on top of your health and leading a healthy life. It is important to know that higher-than-normal cholesterol levels do not have visible symptoms but affect human health negatively.

What is a Cholesterol Test?

A cholesterol test is used to measure the level of cholesterol in the blood. A lipid profile test and an HDL test are the most common tests prescribed by the doctor to know the cholesterol level of a person. The human body has bad cholesterol and good cholesterol in it. The good cholesterol carries excess cholesterol to the liver where it is filtered out of the system. The presence of bad cholesterol harms the human body by blocking arteries and hindering blood flow.

Importance of Early Monitoring of Cholesterol

• Early detection of high cholesterol levels helps in avoiding severe medical conditions.

• People who are at high risk of heart disease are also recommended to get a cholesterol test done regularly to monitor their overall health. Some of the risk factors for heart disease are obesity, family medical history, diabetes, and a sedentary lifestyle.

• Cholesterol monitoring is important for people with high LDL levels to check the progress of their treatment.

Who Should Get a Cholesterol Test Done?

It is recommended that a cholesterol test should be done every five years after the age of 20 for a healthy individual. People over the age of 40 years should get a cholesterol test done every year to maintain their health. 

These individuals should get their cholesterol tests done regularly as they fall under a high-risk bracket.

• Family medical history

• Obesity

• Inactive lifestyle

• Individuals who smoke and drink can

• Existing medical conditions include thyroid disease, diabetes, and PCOS.

The prices for the cholesterol test vary from laboratory to laboratory. However, the prices for these medical tests are not very high so people from all backgrounds can afford the tests.