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Diagnosis of High Blood Cholesterol
Screening for High Blood Cholesterol
Because high blood cholesterol does not elicit any signs or symptoms until complications of the disease process develop (e.g., chest pain; heart attack; stroke), screening represents the only effective means for identifying individuals who have high levels of blood cholesterol. Screening of all adults with a blood test known as a lipid profile should begin at age 20 with repeat testing every 5 years if the test results are normal.
The lipid profile typically measures the following components:
Total cholesterol - a measurement of the total cholesterol level in the bloodstream (LDL cholesterol plus HDL cholesterol)
HDL cholesterol - the amount of "good" cholesterol in the bloodstream
LDL cholesterol - the amount of "bad" cholesterol in the bloodstream
Triglycerides - the amount of triglycerides (a type of fat produced by the liver that can increase the risk for cardiovascular disease) in the bloodstream.
