There are not necessarily any warning signs of a high cholesterol, which is why it is important to perform a blood test to determine cholesterol blood levels. High cholesterol can however increase your chances of strokes, heart attacks and other forms of heart disease.

Once you’ve placed your order, we will send you a kit containing everything you need to supply us with a small blood sample. This involves a simple prick of the finger with a small, sterilised lancet, which you can carry out in the comfort of your own home. You then post this sample to our laboratory in the pre-paid envelope provided and we’ll do the rest!

Healthy cholesterol levels have been defined by the NHS as the following:

– Total cholesterol: 5 mmol/L or below

– HDL (good cholesterol): 1 mmol/L or above

– Non-HDL including LDL (bad cholesterol): 4 mmol/L or below

– Fasting triglycerides (when you’re asked not to eat for several hours before the test): 1.7 mmol/L or below

– Non-fasting triglycerides (when you eat as normal before the test): 2.3 mmol/L or below

Note that different laboratories will have slightly different normal reference ranges for these measurements.

Standard practice is that you are required to fast for 9–12 hours before taking a cholesterol test, meaning that you should have no food or drink other than water during that time. Ideally, you would take the blood sample in the morning.

– Total cholesterol, which represents the sum of the blood’s cholesterol

– Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. Known as the ‘bad’ cholesterol, an excess can cause the build-up of fatty deposits (plaques) in your arteries (atherosclerosis), reducing blood flow. The rupture of these plaques can lead to strokes or a heart attack.

– High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. Known as the ‘good’ cholesterol, it helps remove non-HDL cholesterol, keeping the arteries open and the blood flowing freely.

– Triglycerides. Your body converts the calories that you do not need into triglycerides, and these are then stored as fat in the blood. High levels of triglycerides have been associated with factors such being overweight, smoking, consuming too much alcohol or sweet foods or being sedentary.

– Very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) cholesterol. High levels of VLDL cholesterol like LDL have been associated with the build-up of plaques, narrowing arteries and restricting blood flow.

You should preferably take your blood sample in the morning before breakfast after a 9–12-hour period of fasting.

Making simple changes to your diet and lifestyle can help reduce your cholesterol levels within just 4 weeks and most people will see a difference within 6-8 weeks if they follow a healthy heart diet as indicated by the British Heart Foundation.

The National Heart, Lung and Blood institute (NHLBI) recommends cholesterol screening every 1 to 2 years for women aged between 55 to 65 and men aged between 45 to 65. People over the age of 65 should take yearly cholesterol tests.

More frequent tests may be suggested if you already have a coronary artery disease, you are taking cholesterol-lowering medication (such as Statins) or you are in a higher risk category:

– Have a family history of high cholesterol or heart disease

– Are overweight

– Have diabetes

– Have an unhealthy diet

– Have a sedentary lifestyle

– Smoke