What Does Total Cholesterol Indicate?

What does total cholesterol indicate?

Your doctor may ask you to have a blood test that checks your cholesterol levels. This test will tell your healthcare provider how much cholesterol and triglycerides are in your blood. This information is used to help your doctor decide if you are at risk of developing heart disease or a stroke and recommend a treatment plan.

Cholesterol is a fatty substance that is essential for your body to function properly, but too much can be bad for your health. It can build up in your arteries and make it harder for your heart to pump blood to all parts of your body.

This is called atherosclerosis and can lead to a variety of heart conditions, including heart attacks and strokes. It is caused by the buildup of plaque in your arteries that narrows them and blocks blood flow to your heart and other vital organs.

You can lower your risk of developing cardiovascular diseases by managing your cholesterol levels and following a healthy diet and exercise program. You can also try to control your weight and use a cholesterol-lowering medication if your health care provider recommends it.

A test that measures all types of cholesterol in your blood is called a lipid panel. The test can measure your total cholesterol, HDL (high-density lipoprotein) cholesterol and LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol, as well as triglycerides.

The numbers in your results come in milligrams per deciliter of blood, or mg/dL. This measurement is standard for most people.

When you get a cholesterol test, your healthcare provider will draw a small amount of your blood from your arm or leg. Then they will look at a special machine that can see how much cholesterol and triglycerides you have in your blood.

Your doctor can also order other tests to see if you have certain conditions that can increase your risk of heart disease. For example, if you have diabetes or have had a stroke, your doctor will check your blood sugar and cholesterol levels.

If you have high blood pressure, your doctor will check your triglycerides and if you have high cholesterol, your doctor may check your LDL cholesterol. The tests will help your doctor determine if you need to start taking medications to treat this condition.

The result of your cholesterol test will be in the form of a series of numbers, which your healthcare provider will interpret and explain to you. They will give you the number for your cholesterol and triglycerides, as well as a chart that shows the normal ranges for these measurements.

In general, the higher your total cholesterol, the more likely you are to develop heart disease or other conditions that can lead to a heart attack or stroke. But it is important to remember that measurements of cholesterol are only one factor in predicting your risk of cardiovascular disease and can be affected by many other factors, such as your age, family history, gender, smoking status and type of medication you take for high blood pressure or diabetes.