Blood tests are a source of dread for many of us during our annual checkups, but before you duck out of your next doctor’s visit, consider this: without regular testing, you may have no other warning signs that your cardiovascular health is at risk.
Regular cholesterol blood tests are some of your best safeguards against the development of high blood pressure and heart disease, both of which can be sneaky and undetectable until it’s too late. So here’s everything you need to know about cholesterol blood tests, why they matter, and how you can stay on top of your heart health in between your annual checkups.
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Why would my doctor order a cholesterol blood test?
Cholesterol blood tests, or “lipid panels,” are a common test that helps your healthcare providers determine your risk of developing problems with your cardiovascular health.
They’re one of the best indicators for your heart health because cholesterol levels are very closely linked to your heart health. Cholesterol is a waxy fat-like substance. Like other nutrients, cholesterol is delivered to cells throughout your body by traveling in your blood through your nutrient “superhighway”: the arteries and veins in your cardiovascular system.
Your body makes a certain amount of cholesterol on its own, but it can also build up in your body from a combination of genetics and lifestyle factors. If there’s a ton of cholesterol circulating in your blood, it can start to stick to the sides of your arteries and begin accumulating. Unfortunately, this can lead to serious and even devastating consequences when left unchecked and uncorrected.
High cholesterol levels can lead to:
- Atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries as the cholesterol sticks to its sides and hardens into a plaque
- Elevated blood pressure as the sides of your arteries become less elastic from the atherosclerosis
- Blood clots if pieces of those plaques rupture and block off your blood flow
- Heart attacks, if those blood clots block off blood flow to your heart
- Strokes, if those blood clots prevent your brain from getting the blood and oxygen it needs
- Heart disease or even total heart failure as your heart works in overdrive to deliver blood through the impacted blood vessels
If you’re in for a regular checkup, your doctor may order a cholesterol blood test as part of a routine screening. They may also order a cholesterol blood test if they suspect that you’re at a higher risk for developing heart disease, because it’s a great indicator for a disease that otherwise doesn’t have too many overt symptoms.
Who should monitor cholesterol levels and why?
So the myriad risks of unchecked high cholesterol levels means that it’s crucial to get those cholesterol tests done as soon as your doctor suspects that they may be necessary. But what if your doctor hasn’t ordered a cholesterol test yet?
No, it doesn’t mean you’re in the clear and that your heart health is good to go until your doctor brings it up again — because in truth, everyone (yes, even children) should have their cholesterol levels checked regularly.
According to the CDC, adults over the age of 20 should have their cholesterol levels checked every five years, and even more frequently if you’re at a higher risk of developing heart disease. Some circumstances that can make you more prone to high cholesterol include:
- Old age: Your risk of developing high cholesterol increases the older you are.
- Smoking: Smoking is highly damaging to your arteries and can raise your levels of “bad” cholesterol while lowering your levels of “good” cholesterol that can clear some of that buildup away.
- Genetics: People with a family history of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and heart disease are more likely to develop high cholesterol levels than others.
- Obesity: Having high levels of body fat, especially around your middle, can change the way that your body metabolizes fat and increase inflammation, both of which can lead to higher cholesterol levels.
High amounts of fat tissue on its own isn’t the only factor in developing high cholesterol, either. Dietary choices and activity level can also play a role. For example, diets that are high in saturated and trans fats (like the kinds that you would find in animal products and processed foods) can lead to elevated cholesterol levels, and a lack of physical activity can also lend itself to poorer heart health.
Remember, high cholesterol levels on their own don’t necessarily show any noticeable symptoms. So at the end of the day, everyone should be checking in with their lipid panels on a regular basis to catch any high cholesterol issues before they become a serious and even life-threatening health problem.
What tests are actually run with a cholesterol blood test?
A full lipid panel test actually tests for a couple of different biomarkers that could indicate unfavorable cholesterol levels. The relevant tests that will be run during a cholesterol blood test include LDL, HDL, total cholesterol, and triglycerides.
LDL
Low-density lipoproteins, or LDL for short, can be thought of as “bad” cholesterol. They’re the sticky kinds of cholesterol that can cling to your arteries and develop into plaque. The lower your LDL levels are, the better.
HDL
High-density lipoproteins, or HDL, are a kind of cholesterol that you actually want to have in high amounts. This is because HDL is a “good” cholesterol that carries excess cholesterol away from your heart.
Total cholesterol
Your total cholesterol reading consists of a combination of both LDL and HDL levels. Overall, your total cholesterol levels should ideally be low.
Triglycerides
While not technically part of the cholesterol family, triglycerides are another form of fat that are present in your blood and that can indicate your risk for developing heart disease.
What are normal ranges for cholesterol?
The normal range for cholesterol level tests are as follows:
- LDL: <100 mg/dL
- HDL: >50 mg/dL for women and >40 mg/dL for men
- Total Cholesterol: 125-200 mg/DL
- Triglycerides: <150 mg/dL
If you fall within these ranges, your heart health is probably in good shape, although consulting with a doctor about any other conditions that affect your cardiovascular system is still highly recommended. If your cholesterol levels are outside of these normal ranges, it’s a good indication that it may be time to make some heart-healthy changes.
Cholesterol blood test vs. saliva test
While a blood test is the most well-known form of cholesterol testing, there’s also been some interest in recent years on whether other kinds of samples can accurately analyze your lipid panels. Namely, saliva tests have begun to be used for cholesterol testing.
Saliva tests are obviously much less invasive than their blood counterparts. It’s also fairly convenient because it doesn’t involve any special equipment.
As to whether or not it’s an accurate form of testing, all signs point to yes. One study that sought to evaluate the accuracy of blood vs. saliva tests took 100 subjects and used both testing methods to get full lipid panel readings. Researchers found that both readings were statistically correlated, so they concluded that saliva tests were a fairly accurate way to test cholesterol levels without having to draw any blood.
So the good news here: you can take regular cholesterol tests even if the thought of a blood test gets your heart racing!
How to improve your cholesterol levels
Whether your lipid panel tests have indicated that you need to take action to get your cholesterol levels down or are simply a fan of preventative health, here are some things you can do to improve your next lipid panel screening.
Improve your diet
A healthy diet is the cornerstone for heart-healthy habits, so changing up your eating patterns is one of the first steps you can take to get your cardiovascular system back in tip-top shape.
One of the first areas to pay attention to is your intake of dietary fats. Saturated fats, which come from animal products like cheese and meat, are known to increase cholesterol levels when eaten in large amounts. Similarly, trans fats, which are often found in processed and fried foods, can also impact your cholesterol. So as you look to improve your diet, you can start by minimizing the amount of saturated and trans fats that you eat. In the meantime, plenty of heart-healthy fats can be found in plant-based foods: think olive oil, avocados, and coconuts!
A heart-healthy diet is one that is full of fruits and vegetables, which are full of essential nutrients like antioxidants and fiber that are great for your cardiovascular system. For example, the Mediterranean diet, which is full of antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables, plus plenty of healthy plant-based fats and lean proteins, is highly cardioprotective and recommended for people who want to minimize their risk of heart disease. There’s even evidence that following the Mediterranean diet can directly lower your LDL levels over time!
Of course, you don’t need to strictly follow a Mediterranean diet in order to reap the benefits for your cholesterol levels. Simply incorporating some of those main principles like eating plenty of plant-based fare and sticking to healthy fats instead can do a ton of good for your heart health.
Increase your physical activity
Besides the changes that you can make to your diet, you might also consider increasing your physical activity in your bid to improve your cholesterol.
Your heart is a muscle, so it needs regular exercise to keep it strong. Cardiovascular exercises like running, jogging, and HIIT workouts get your heart racing and so are ideal for minimizing any cholesterol issues you may have. In addition, resistance training, like weightlifting, can improve your body composition by helping you build muscle while burning calories. And of course, both kinds of exercises can help bring your weight down, especially when combined with a healthy eating plan that lowers your intake of processed foods and unhealthy dietary fat!
Quit smoking
Finally, if you are a smoker, quitting is one of the best things you can do for your cholesterol levels since it is so damaging to your arteries. Chewing nicotine gum, using patches, or trying behavioral therapy can all be helpful tools if you have trouble going cold turkey.
How to monitor your cholesterol from home
Because of how silent and sneaky high cholesterol levels can be, it’s important to get them tested regularly to ensure that you’re keeping your heart healthy.
The good news: you no longer have to go to a doctor to do it!
At-home tests like the Base Diet Test allow you to take smaller blood samples and send them in for testing, all without having to leave the house to go to a doctor’s office.
Are at-home cholesterol tests as accurate as a doctor’s test?
Yes! As long as you collect a good sample, you’ll be able to get accurate results from at-home testing with Base.
In addition, at-home cholesterol tests are more convenient and can give you progressive feedback, versus a doctor’s visit where you aren’t necessarily in control of when your next blood test will be. In other words, you’ll be able to track your progress and see improvements as they happen!
Final thoughts
Everybody should be thinking about their cholesterol levels. No matter how healthy you think you are and how few symptoms you may feel, cholesterol levels can easily build up from a variety of factors and lead to devastating health consequences. Catching these abnormal fatty acid deposits before they build up is key to keeping your heart happy and healthy for a long, long time.
With at-home cholesterol tests like Base, it’s now easier than ever to keep a close watch of your heart health. Don’t wait until it’s too late — stay informed and proactive!
Worried about your cholesterol levels?
Take our quiz to build a bespoke testing plan that will help you improve your cholesterol and optimize your health.
