How to properly take a blood test for cholesterol. How many days does a cholesterol test take? How to properly take a cholesterol test for a woman
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Nowadays, it is rare that anyone has not heard about the dangers of cholesterol for our body. And many are familiar first-hand with such a disease as atherosclerosis. Almost every fifth person in our country has problems with, to a greater or lesser extent. These people often experience bouts of dizziness, constant headaches, impaired concentration, memory problems, and a feeling of chilliness and numbness in the limbs.
Blood from a vein is used to test cholesterol.Unfortunately, patients often ignore all these symptoms, and in the initial stages, disorders in lipid metabolism are discovered by the doctor only after a cholesterol test has been taken. Let's figure out when it's worth doing a blood cholesterol test, how to prepare for such a test, and what indicators you should pay attention to. Every person's body produces a substance called cholesterol (cholesterol). This substance is produced in the liver for approximately 70 - 80% of the cholesterol in the blood, and a person receives another 30 - 20% from food. The substance is absolutely insoluble in water and is delivered to the right place in the body with the help of carrier proteins called apolipoproteins.
Cholesterol is very important for the proper functioning of our body. Here are some of its features:
- increases the elasticity and rigidity of the walls of vascular cell membranes, thereby stabilizing them;
- regulates cell permeability;
- protects blood cells from substances that can damage them;
- on its basis, steroid hormones are synthesized, which are produced by the adrenal glands;
- protects nerve fibers and improves their conductivity.
All cholesterol is usually divided into “good” or “bad”.
- “Good” cholesterol is commonly referred to as high-density lipoprotein or HDL. These small fat particles contain much higher protein content than cholesterol. It is these particles that are not deposited on the walls of blood vessels, but, on the contrary, help cleanse the internal walls of blood vessels from atherosclerotic formations. This occurs as a result of the delivery of fat cells by HDL cells to the liver, where they are disposed of.
- “Bad” cholesterol includes the so-called LDL and VLDL. These are low and very low density lipoproteins. They have a very high ability to be deposited on the walls of blood vessels and provoke the formation of atherosclerotic plaques.
The patient experiences a clear increase in “bad” cholesterol relative to “good” cholesterol. At this time, so-called chylomicrons also appear in the blood, which indicates a significant disturbance in human fat metabolism. These are large accumulations of fat fractions that move extremely poorly through blood vessels, which means they are very quickly deposited on their walls. If the attending physician suspects an abnormal rise in “bad” cholesterol, he will definitely prescribe a specific test. Indications for such tests will be the following health problems:
- presence or suspicion of coronary heart disease;
- pathology of the endocrine system;
- kidney or liver disease;
- control of treatment with statins or lipid-lowering drugs.
Where and how is a blood test taken for cholesterol levels?
You can take a blood sample and test it for cholesterol in a biochemical laboratory. It uses a complete diagnosis of the state of the human body, identifying indicators of carbohydrate, protein or fat metabolism. Based on the analyses, accurate conclusions can be drawn about the functioning of internal organs. It should be remembered that cholesterol levels normally fluctuate depending on age - the older the person, the higher the levels. The gender of the patient also plays a significant role. In middle age, the norm for men will be slightly higher than for women. But if a person is over 50 years old, the norm for women becomes higher than for men.
To carry out the analysis, blood is drawn from a vein in the laboratory. This requires approximately 4.5 ml. The required markings are applied to the test tube and sent for testing. It is better to donate blood from 8 to 10 o'clock, it is at this time that the greatest activity of biochemical processes is observed.
How to properly prepare for testing
Let's look at how to properly prepare for donating blood for cholesterol. Preparing for analysis – this is a necessary condition for the patient. Before going to donate blood, a person needs to contact his attending physician with a request to note in the referral for analysis all existing diseases and the names of medications taken during treatment. Further, to obtain correct indicators, the patient must follow the following simple rules:
- For at least two weeks you need to eat as usual and not follow any diets. This is extremely necessary to obtain reliable information about the composition of the blood.
- In the morning before the test, you should absolutely not eat anything; only non-carbonated water is allowed.
- The last meal should be no earlier than 10–12 hours before blood sampling. The optimal time for dinner is 18-19 hours.
- The day before the test, you should not drink alcoholic beverages.
- It is best to abstain from smoking, at least for an hour.
- Immediately before donating blood for cholesterol, you need to sit quietly and relax for a few minutes.
- If the patient was scheduled for any other medical examinations such as ultrasound, MRI or X-ray on that day, it is better to carry them out after blood sampling.
What does the transcript show?
Now let’s figure out what a general biochemical analysis shows us and how cholesterol is indicated in a blood test. When conducting a biochemical blood test, only the total cholesterol content can be determined. On average, the figure for an adult and healthy person will be approximately 3.2 – 5.6 mmol/l. The designation of cholesterol in a biochemical blood test is carried out by the letters CS. Although cholesterol has different types, this study only refers to its total content.
If the indicator exceeds the norm, this may indicate the presence of the following diseases: atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease, kidney disease, obesity, diabetes, alcoholism, etc. A cholesterol indicator below the norm signals another type of disease: infections, bone marrow diseases, etc. d.
Do not be surprised that the result will be slightly different in different laboratories, but in any case, if the cholesterol level exceeds the permissible norm of 5.6 mmol/l, an additional detailed study called a lipogram is required.
If in a general analysis we see only the total cholesterol indicator, then when performing a lipogram we will see its fractions, triglycerides and an index or atherogenicity coefficient. These data will allow the doctor to more accurately assess the risk of developing atherosclerosis. The designation of cholesterol in a detailed biochemical blood test will look like this:
- α-Cholesterol shows the level of HDL, which indicates the presence of lipoproteins, the so-called high-density lipoproteins. They belong to cholesterol, which helps fight atherosclerotic plaques.
- β-Cholesterol shows LDL, which is the “bad” cholesterol.
- KA – atherogenic coefficient, reflects the ratio of “good” and “bad” cholesterol.
- If the indicator is below 3, there are no atherosclerotic deposits, and they will not appear in the near future.
- A reading above 5 indicates that atherosclerosis has already affected the vessels and the disease is progressing.
Express analysis
Some diseases require constant monitoring of blood cholesterol levels. These factors include:
- various types of heart diseases;
- age exceeding 60 years.
For these purposes, patients usually use rapid diagnostic devices. Analyzers are sold in pharmacies. This is a small device that runs on batteries. This portable device comes with test strips, which, unfortunately, are quite expensive if purchased additionally. This aspect is the main disadvantage of this device.
Conducting a quick analysis is very simple. This requires only a drop of blood taken from a puncture on the ring finger. After three minutes, the test result will be visible on the analyzer screen. The big advantage of such devices is that the data from past measurements will remain in the device’s memory for a long time. Preparing for tests in this way is no different from preparing for a blood draw in the laboratory.
To diagnose atherosclerosis and timely identify the risk of strokes and heart attacks, it is necessary to do a cholesterol test. To do this, blood is taken from a vein, and this is done on an empty stomach.
Proper preparation for blood tests
Typically, all preparation before donating blood for cholesterol consists of abstaining from eating for at least eight hours.
There are approved rules that describe point by point how to prepare for donating blood for cholesterol:
- Meals are taken 12-16 hours before visiting a medical facility. Longer fasting can lead to weakening of the body, as a result of which the laboratory test results will be unreliable.
- You should not drink alcohol for at least 24 hours before the test, and it is also not recommended to smoke 1.5-2 hours before the test.
- Before donating blood, you can only drink non-carbonated water without sugar, although this is also undesirable. If possible, limit yourself to a glass of purified water.
- If medications are used, the doctor who gives the referral for the study must be warned about this. In this case, you should stop taking medications that affect cholesterol levels (vitamins, diuretics, antibiotics, hormonal drugs, etc.).
- Cholesterol levels in women of reproductive age are independent of the menstrual cycle, so specialized testing should not be abandoned even during menstruation.
Sometimes, on the contrary, specialists require patients not to prepare specifically for blood donation at all. This is necessary if the average indicator is to be determined.
Donating blood for analysis
Only in specialized laboratories of medical institutions can a cholesterol test be performed. A laboratory employee will explain how to donate blood directly on the spot, and the patient himself is only required to properly prepare for the procedure and come to the medical facility in the morning.
Also, if on the same day it is necessary to do an x-ray, physical therapy or rectal diagnostics, then all of the above procedures can be performed only after blood tests are taken.
It will not be possible to conduct a blood test for cholesterol on your own with high accuracy, since universal devices for this do not yet exist. This process is carried out exclusively in a specialized laboratory according to special schemes using highly sensitive reagents.
Self-administered rapid test
However, for patients who are indicated for lipid-lowering therapy, there is a special express diagnostic method using an electronic express analyzer with disposable test strips or a rapid test, also disposable.
With their help, you can get an idea of the effectiveness of treatment at home without visiting a doctor.
To conduct an express test, it is imperative to carry out all preparatory measures related to limiting food intake, alcohol, etc.
The convenience of the method lies not only in the absence of the need to visit the laboratory, but also in quick diagnostic results - you can draw a conclusion about the approximate cholesterol content in just five minutes, while a conclusion is issued by a medical institution only after 1-3 days.
Devices for rapid tests are used like a glucometer:
- A drop of the patient’s blood is placed on a special test strip in the machine;
- After about three minutes, a number will appear on the display, which will be the result of the analysis of the total cholesterol content in the blood.
Such blood tests in healthy people are usually carried out once a year. Patients with an increased risk factor for developing cardiovascular diseases should be checked more often, including using the described portable device.
Types of cholesterol tests
To assess the state of health during medical examinations, medical examinations, etc., a general blood test is always performed, in which cholesterol is determined along with other important indicators.
If its excess is detected (more than 5.2 mmol/l), then this serves as the basis for conducting a more detailed study called a lipid profile.
The danger of developing atherosclerosis can be judged most accurately by conducting the so-called. detailed blood test for cholesterol. It is an extended study (lipid profile), which determines not only the content of total cholesterol, but also its fractions, triglycerides and atherogenicity coefficient.
Cholesterol, or rather its fractions, in the results of a detailed analysis are designated as:
- HDL or alpha cholesterol (high density lipoprotein). It is a “useful” type of cholesterol that is not deposited in blood vessels, but is directly transported to the liver. Normal HDL levels should exceed 1 mmol/L.
- LDL or beta cholesterol (low density lipoprotein). This is already the so-called. harmful cholesterol, which serves as a building material for atherosclerotic plaques in blood vessels. Its content in the blood should be less than 3 mmol/l.
Another important indicator in the research results is the atherogenicity index, denoted by the abbreviation KA. It represents the LDL/HDL ratio.
If the value of the coefficient under consideration is less than three, then the person is healthy and the risk of vascular damage is minimal. Already existing atherosclerosis will be indicated by a CA value exceeding 5 units. In this case, there is a high probability of developing ischemic damage to internal organs, including coronary artery disease.
Decoding the analysis results
Let us note once again that the results of the study will largely depend on nutrition before the study.
Therefore, you definitely need to know how to take a cholesterol test correctly, otherwise, after the usual general analysis, it will be necessary to conduct a detailed and also other studies, since an excess or, on the contrary, an insufficient amount of the organic compound in question usually indicates the development of various pathologies.
High cholesterol occurs in patients with coronary heart disease, as well as in diabetes mellitus, kidney disease, obesity, pancreatic cancer, and alcoholism.
But a low concentration is also not the norm and may indicate the presence of diseases such as advanced cirrhosis, chronic anemia, as well as bone marrow diseases, existing cancers, etc.
Considering cardiovascular risk
The previously given value of the permissible cholesterol level of 5 mmol/l is averaged, since this indicator depends on age and is determined in more detail using a special SCORE scale:
- For persons included in a low cardiovascular risk group (without bad heredity, young age), the permissible level is below 5.5 mmol/l.
- For patients at moderate risk (obese, with low physical activity, middle age), the acceptable level is 5 mmol/l.
- For people from a high risk group (hypertension, diabetes mellitus, vascular pathology), the value should be below 4.5 mmol/l.
- For people with a very high cardiovascular risk (stroke, coronary artery disease, atherosclerosis), a normal cholesterol level will be considered a concentration of less than 4 mmol/l.
It should also be taken into account that normal test results vary, for example, in children of different ages and in adults, so only a doctor can accurately determine the need for additional research and prescribe appropriate treatment.
If a general analysis reveals an excess of cholesterol in the blood, it is necessary to conduct a detailed study. How to properly donate blood for cholesterol has already been noted earlier.
In this case, before conducting a detailed analysis, it is important to follow the recommendations given as carefully as possible, since on its basis, if a pathology is detected, appropriate treatment will be prescribed.
Such an important indicator as the level of “bad” LDL cholesterol determines the possibility of developing vascular pathologies. Therefore, based on its values, taking into account the degree of cardiovascular risk, the doctor prescribes (or, on the contrary, does not prescribe) treatment with statins.
These drugs, despite their effectiveness in the fight against high cholesterol, have a lot of contraindications, which is why it is extremely important to get a quality cholesterol test. How to donate blood for a general examination was previously described in detail. The procedure for preparing for a detailed analysis is no different.
Detailed study indicators
Let's take a closer look at the transcript of a detailed blood test. In addition to determining the previously discussed HDL and LDL (“good” HDL-cholesterol and “harmful” LDL-cholesterol), the level of triglycerides is also determined.
The latter are derivatives of fatty acids and glycerol, i.e. dissolved fats entering the blood from food and are not cholesterol compounds.
Below we present in detail the normal, elevated and high concentration values of the compounds considered:
mg/l | mmol/l | meaning |
Total cholesterol | ||
Less than 200 | 5,2 | Normal |
200-239 | 5,2-6,1 | Elevated |
More than 240 | 6,2 | High |
LDL (“bad” cholesterol), LDL | ||
Less than 100 | 2,6 | Normal |
100-129 | 2,6-3,3 | Slightly elevated |
130-159 | 3,4-4,0 | Elevated |
160-189 | 4,1-4,8 | High |
More than 190 | 4,9 | Very tall |
HDL (“good” cholesterol), HDL | ||
Less than 40 | 1 | Short |
More than 60 | 1,6 | High |
Triglycerides | ||
Less than 150 | 1,7 | Normal |
150-199 | 1,7-2,2 | Elevated |
200-499 | 2,3-5,7 | High |
More than 500 | 5,7 | Very tall |
Particular attention should be paid to “good” cholesterol. Its level, unlike “bad” LDL, is determined by the maximum indicator, i.e. the more of it in the body, the more protected your blood vessels are from various pathologies.
What is the best thing to eat before donating blood for testing?
So, you need to donate blood for cholesterol. How to prepare for this event has already been described. That is, you cannot eat at least 12 hours before the test, drink alcohol the day before, etc.
However, if you have a few days before your test, you can be better prepared by choosing a diet that will help prepare your body as much as possible.
To do this, completely eliminate from your diet all fatty, smoked, fried foods, baked goods, chocolate and any sweets, and fatty dairy products. Try to eat more seafood and vegetables whenever possible.
Stay outside more, take walks, increase physical activity. In this case, in the absence of serious diseases, your blood cholesterol will always be normal.
For many of us, the substance cholesterol is almost enemy number one. We try to limit its intake from food, believing that it causes colossal harm to our body. However, we need this substance, like all other compounds. Cholesterol is involved in many processes inside our body and its deficiency is just as dangerous as its excess. In order for doctors to accurately determine the content of this compound in the blood, you need to know how to take a cholesterol test according to the rules.
Why do we need this fat?
Cholesterol performs several functions in the human body. It is wrong to think that we don’t need cholesterol.
He is responsible for:
- Formation of a protective cell membrane.
- Hormone production.
- Bile production.
- Vitamin D production.
- Breakdown of vitamins that dissolve in fats.
- Formation of a protective capsule of nerve fibers.
The level of cholesterol in the blood of an adult should not exceed 5.2 mmol/l. It should be noted that the norms for this substance differ depending on gender and age. Today, experts say that even generally accepted tables are only averages, since each person has their own cholesterol level. Cholesterol levels are assessed using a biochemical blood test. If you want to get an accurate test result, it is important to know how to properly take a cholesterol blood test.
Who needs to get tested
Every person should have their blood tested for cholesterol at least once a year. A blood test for cholesterol is necessary for the following indications:
- Determining the level of risk of developing atherosclerosis.
- Endocrine pathologies.
- Liver pathologies of various origins.
- Congenital and acquired kidney pathologies.
- Control of drug therapy.
In addition, blood for cholesterol is tested in patients preparing for hospitalization, during routine medical examinations and when patients visit the clinic for certain complaints. In children, the first test is taken at birth. Your doctor should explain to you how to donate blood for cholesterol. You must prepare for donating blood in advance so that the results are not distorted and are as accurate as possible.
How to get tested
So, how to properly donate blood for cholesterol, and what does violating the rules for preparing for blood sampling lead to? How to prepare for the analysis? Donating blood for cholesterol must be taken with full responsibility, otherwise the results may inform the doctor about a pathology that does not exist in you, and as a result, you will be prescribed the wrong treatment. To properly prepare, there are general rules for submitting biomaterial. It is very important to take the test on an empty stomach. Blood is taken for testing from the ulnar vein early in the morning.
Next, the material is sent to the laboratory, where the cholesterol content in the plasma is assessed. In laboratory conditions, a study is carried out for total cholesterol, high and low density lipoproteins, as well as triglycerides. Cholesterol is usually measured in mmol/l, but in some institutions it can be measured in other quantities, which is very important to consider when deciphering the result.
Preparation for the test should begin long before plasma collection. Alcohol should not be taken a week before the sampling, and eating is not recommended for at least 10 hours. Many patients ask how to take the test correctly so that the result is accurate? The answer is simple, the most important thing is to donate blood for testing on an empty stomach. Once you have passed the test, you can have a snack in the clinic cafeteria.
This rule must be strictly observed. Can I drink before the test? It is not recommended to drink tea and coffee. You should also not drink juices or any other drinks. You are only allowed to drink clean, non-carbonated water. It is better to drink regular boiled water. What not to do before donating blood. If you are preparing to donate blood, you should not smoke, drink alcohol or be nervous before collecting biomaterial.
Today, for people at risk, there is an excellent solution to control cholesterol at home. There are special express strips that determine cholesterol in the blood. However, the results of such tests cannot be called accurate, rather average, because they determine total cholesterol. Where is blood taken for rapid analysis? For this test, blood is given from a finger, but you also need to follow the rules for preparing for the test.
Why can't you eat
All food that enters our stomach is broken down into individual elements by the action of enzymes. These substances are absorbed by the intestinal walls and enter the bloodstream, which carries them to organs and tissues. It is for this reason that you need to take a blood test only on an empty stomach.
If you don't figure out how to prepare for donating blood and break the ban, substances from the outside, like the ones you just ate, will get into your blood. And doctors need to evaluate what is in your blood, regardless of food intake.
For this reason, in order to get accurate cholesterol test results, you should not eat food before drawing blood. Moreover, doctors recommend limiting yourself to fatty foods 7 days before the test. Then the results will be more accurate and you can reduce the risk of misdiagnosis. The choice of laboratory also influences the accuracy of the results. If you have already taken the test, you need to take it again in the same place.
This is due to the possible use of different reagents in honey. institutions, which may distort the results.
It is worth noting that strict diets and certain diseases can lower blood cholesterol to critical levels. Therefore, low cholesterol is also a deviation.
What to do if the indicators are elevated
Don't panic if your blood cholesterol is slightly higher than normal. Most often this happens from poor nutrition. To reduce blood cholesterol in this case, you only need to exclude dangerous foods from the diet and subsequently control their consumption. You can quickly reduce cholesterol by giving up:
- Fried food.
- Fatty dairy products.
- Confectionery products.
- Palm oil.
How to quickly reduce your performance? Fried foods in the diet can be replaced with stewed or baked ones, but it’s not so easy to give up palm oil. The fact is that this component is contained in a huge number of products today. It is very harmful, but at the same time very beneficial for producers. For this reason, if you have a tendency to increase cholesterol, to reduce it you need to read the composition of all products and exclude everything that contains palm oil. If the levels are elevated, cholesterol is lowered with medications.
In contact with
Poor nutrition, overeating and stress lead to the accumulation of bad cholesterol in the body, which leads to its settling on the inner walls of blood vessels. Undoubtedly, cholesterol is necessary, since without it cells cannot exist in principle. It is part of cell membranes, and also takes an active part in the synthesis of certain vitamins and bile acids. However, high levels of low-density cholesterol indicate that harmful cells can settle on the walls of blood vessels, forming atherosclerotic plaques. What kind of analysis determines cholesterol levels, and how to prepare for donating blood, we will consider further.
Analysis of cholesterol levels in the blood can show its quantitative content in the body, which in turn will help to avoid health problems. The fact is that high rates are no less dangerous than low ones.
In case of an excess of this substance, the risks of developing cardiovascular diseases, in particular heart attack and stroke, increase.Therefore, first of all, this analysis is extremely necessary for the following categories of people:
- If you are overweight, this indicator may indicate a failure of metabolic processes, and also characterizes the possible risks of developing heart disease.
- With an unhealthy diet with a predominance of fatty and fried foods - if a person eats fast food, the chances of developing cardiovascular pathologies at an early age increase several times.
- Patients over 45 years of age - against the background of hormonal changes in the body (especially in women), an uncontrolled increase in cholesterol levels can provoke sudden death.
- In the presence of chronic arterial hypertension, high blood pressure in combination with high cholesterol levels increases the risk of developing heart pathologies and sudden death tenfold.
- In case of progression of diabetes mellitus, against the background of metabolic disorders, cholesterol levels may change, which entails a number of undesirable consequences.
In the presence of chronic diseases or pathologies of the cardiovascular system, this analysis is performed once every 6 months.
When studying cholesterol levels, the quantitative composition of molecules with low density (bad cholesterol) and molecules with high density (good cholesterol) is assessed. In the first case, the indicator should be lower, since harmful cholesterol is the main cause of the development of diseases of the vascular system, since molecules with low density are not able to be excreted from the body, partially settling on the internal walls of blood vessels. High-density cholesterol easily forms a sediment, which is excreted along with bile from the body.
Types of analyzes
There are several ways to help determine blood cholesterol:
- General analysis - uses venous blood, which is examined for the presence of total cholesterol levels, taking into account molecules with high and low densities. It is the most common analysis, but only shows aggregated data. Suitable for routine diagnostics, but additional studies are required to obtain more specific data.
- Biochemical analysis - helps to evaluate individual specific microelements that indicate the state of cholesterol metabolism, as well as the performance of the liver and cardiovascular system.
In parallel, the analysis examines the level of glucose, lipase, hemoglobin and proteins. The result obtained allows us to obtain a more accurate picture of the patient’s health status.
Ask your question to a clinical laboratory diagnostics doctor
Anna Poniaeva. She graduated from the Nizhny Novgorod Medical Academy (2007-2014) and Residency in Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics (2014-2016).
Let's consider why a blood test for cholesterol is needed, how to prepare for the procedure, learn the features of different research methods, designations, and interpretation of the results.
Clinically significant markers
Research by scientists has clearly established the relationship between human health and the concentration of various lipid fractions in the bloodstream. Cholesterol and the balance of its components are recognized as the main marker of longevity.
By its nature, it is a fatty alcohol, which is almost completely (up to 80%) synthesized by the body itself. About 20% comes from food.
It is impossible to overestimate the biological value of the complex lipid complex; it:
- makes up the majority of cell membranes, ensuring their strength and protection;
- stimulates the synthesis of steroids and sex hormones;
- recognized as the basis of bile acids, ensures normal digestion;
- guarantees the safety of the conduction of impulses from receptors in the central nervous system along nerve fibers;
- prevents hemolysis of red blood cells.
In a blood test, several types of lipid compounds are identified:
- – contain up to 85% triglycerides, cholesterol;
- low- and very-density lipoproteins (VLDL) are the most atherogenic fats that provoke atherosclerosis;
- high-density lipoproteins () – “good cholesterol”, provides anti-atherogenic properties.
Types of analyzes
There are several types of blood tests for cholesterol. Conventional – a comprehensive analysis of all lipid fractions, gives a complete picture of the lipid spectrum of the blood, warns of the risk of developing atherosclerosis and complications. Cholesterol levels are also determined using a standard biochemical blood test:
- total cholesterol (TC or chol), which represents the entire sum of lipid fractions, is recommended to be determined for everyone who has reached the age of 50 at least once a year or two; the danger of hypercholesterolemia is early atherosclerosis, heart attack or stroke;
- analyzes of individual cholesterol fractions - determination of LDL, HDL, their balance (50/50) is important, guaranteeing the absence of metabolic disorders;
- total blood protein - the sum of indicators reflecting the state of protein and closely related lipid metabolism; low readings indicate problems with the kidneys and liver, high readings indicate the development of inflammation;
- the analysis warns of the risk of developing atherosclerosis and associated complications: hypertension, ischemia of the heart, brain, kidneys; Adults are advised to be monitored every 5 years, children – once before reaching the age of ten, so as not to miss congenital anomalies;
- atherogenicity coefficient (index) - shows the balance between good and bad cholesterol, warns of problems with the cardiovascular system due to atherosclerotic ischemia;
- the level of creatinine and blood urea are markers of renal dysfunction and indicate the risk of developing atherosclerosis with unstable cholesterol;
- blood test for ALT (alanine aminotransferase), AST (aspartate aminotransferase) - liver tests, which indicate the preservation of the potential of the liver, heart, and central nervous system;
- alpha-amylase is a marker of carbohydrate and protein metabolism that directly interacts with lipids and characterizes the rate of enzymatic processes;
- GGT is a protein enzyme, gamma-glutamyltransferase, along with cholesterol, which is part of cell membranes and controls the exchange of amino acids at the cellular level; fluctuations indicate a disruption in the functioning of internal organs.
Blood sugar is also studied - a marker of carbohydrate metabolism, which is closely related to fat through triglycerides and cholesterol fractions. The Americans have proven that about 70% of patients with diabetes mellitus a priori suffer from a disorder of fat metabolism - diabetic dyslipidemia.
Designations of cholesterol in a biochemical blood test
Let's look at examples of how cholesterol is indicated in a biochemical blood test.
Preparing for analysis
To determine cholesterol yourself, it is enough to have a portable home device (biochemical analyzer) and special test strips. The fingertip is pierced with a special lancet. A drop is placed on a strip, after 180 seconds the result is read on the analyzer display - this is an indicator of the level of total cholesterol.
The analysis, which is carried out in a clinic or medical center, does not require a special algorithm of actions. You can correctly donate blood for cholesterol by following a number of special recommendations. The results will be reliable if you follow the rules:
- when prescribing a test, you should not go on a diet, since the test results will probably be unreliable; the diet should be familiar for a couple of weeks;
- blood is donated on an empty stomach, between 8 and 10 am (maximum activity of all biochemical processes);
- the day before, the meal ends no later than 20:00, even better – 18-00;
- on the day of the study you are allowed to drink plain water;
- the day before, avoid stress, exclude physical, mental (emotional) overload;
- one day - complete abstinence from alcohol, an hour before the test - do not smoke;
- If the laboratory is located high up and you are out of breath while climbing the stairs, be sure to give yourself 15 minutes to recover.
The doctor is warned in advance about taking medications prescribed according to indications, so that he takes this data into account when decoding.
Cholesterol: normal, causes of deviations
The normal level of blood cholesterol is considered to be up to 5.2 mmol/l. The borderline value is 6.5 units, which already indicates the risk of developing atherosclerosis.
An analysis of the lipid spectrum, which showed such figures, is a reason for in-depth testing for HDL, which can utilize excess bad cholesterol. This study is carried out without following a special diet or using medications for a month. Repeat every three months so as not to miss a cholesterol attack.
Increased lipid levels are possible with:
- poor diet, addiction to fast food, fatty foods;
- obesity - every extra kilogram increases the level of triglycerides, that is, it stimulates atherogenicity and destruction of the vascular wall;
- physical inactivity;
- aging – age-related tissue degeneration, hormonal fluctuations;
- hereditary predisposition to lipid metabolism disorders;
- alcohol intake, medications, nicotine abuse.
High cholesterol, like communicating vessels, in turn provokes the development of:
- ischemia of the heart, brain, kidneys with the development of diseases;
- liver pathology with a violation of its main function;
- hypothyroidism;
- inflammation of the pancreas;
- diabetes mellitus;
- tumor growth;
- somatotropic insufficiency;
- alcoholism - high cholesterol allows you to drink and not snack.
In such cases, to normalize blood cholesterol, it is necessary to treat the underlying pathology; a simple diet and giving up bad habits will not be enough.
Low cholesterol occurs if:
- a person fasts for a long time, he is exhausted by an oncological or chronic inflammatory process: tuberculosis, hepatitis, sarcoidosis, typhus, burns;
- thyroid function suffers (hypothyroidism);
- anemia occurs;
- the patient has a prolonged fever;
- the activity of the central nervous system is disrupted;
- sepsis.
Deciphering other biochemical indicators is an auxiliary process that focuses attention on somatic pathologies.
Last updated: September 1, 2019