A prick in the finger is enough
Your health is a great asset. You know that the amount of cholesterol in the blood is an indication of long-term health. So if you discover a stand at a trade fair where you can have your cholesterol measured or see a home test at the pharmacy, do not hesitate for a moment. But what does such a result actually mean?
You do not feel high cholesterol. Nevertheless, research shows that about 25 percent of people between the ages of 35 and 70 have an elevated cholesterol level (>6.5 mmol/litre). That is why it can be wise to have it checked every now and then. Especially if you don’t live a healthy life, smoke, drink or are overweight, for example. The cholesterol level is measured by means of a blood test. A prick in your finger is usually sufficient. It is recommended to determine the entire fat spectrum, so: total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglycerides.
l. A healthy cholesterol level is below five millimoles per liter.
fluctuations
If the test shows a level higher than five, then that is no reason to panic. The cholesterol level in our body fluctuates naturally. A high value can be an outlier. Multiple measurements are therefore needed to get a reliable picture.
sober
You do not need to be fasting to measure cholesterol alone. For a good insight into the fat metabolism, in addition to total and HDL cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL cholesterol are also determined, partly to determine the causes of the elevated cholesterol. For the determination of HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and triglycerides one must be fasting. After a meal, the triglyceride concentration may temporarily rise to varying degrees. That is why, for a triglyceride determination, blood is taken after the person has not eaten and drunk anything (except water) since 10 p.m. the previous evening.
Risk Factors
A one-time cholesterol test is not wrong in itself, but it is not enough. In addition, cholesterol is not the only risk factor for cardiovascular disease. In order to establish a good understanding of the risk of cardiovascular disease in an individual, a complete risk profile must be drawn up. Things like smoking, being overweight and age also influence the condition of the heart and blood vessels. Are you curious whether you belong to a risk group? Then you can go to the website www.testuwrisk.nl perform a risk test by means of a questionnaire. This test is scientifically substantiated and has been developed by general practitioners, company doctors, the Heart Foundation, the Diabetes Fund and the Kidney Foundation.
Adjust lifestyle
If this test shows that you indeed have a greater risk of cardiovascular disease or diabetes, discuss this with your doctor. Together you can then look at how you can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Diet and lifestyle adjustment is the first step. Healthy foods can lower cholesterol levels by 10 percent. For example, be careful with saturated fat, eat more vegetables and fruit, put fish on the menu more often and stop smoking. More exercise and less stress also contribute to a healthier life and better cholesterol levels.
This article has been produced with the cooperation of the Infoline Hart en Vaten of the Hartstichting and De Heart & Vascular Group.
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