Screening for high cholesterol

What is cholesterol?
Despite its bad press, cholesterol is not all bad. It is made by the liver, but we also get some of it from the food we eat. Problems arise when high levels of cholesterol build up in blood vessels, which puts pressure on the heart because it has to pump harder to get blood round the body.

The two sorts of cholesterol involved are high-density lipoprotein (HDL), which is often called 'good' cholesterol; and low-density lipoprotein (LDL), known as 'bad' cholesterol. It is the ratio between these two that doctors need to know. An ideal reading is five or below.

How is it measured?
It involves a simple blood test that can be carried out by a nurse or a doctor, and many cardiologists recommend that testing for high cholesterol levels should start when people are in their early 30s. High levels of cholesterol are a major risk factor for heart disease in people who also have high blood pressure or who smoke, have a high fat diet or are not physically active.

What if it's high?
You'll need to make some lifestyle changes. Cholesterol levels can be hereditary but things like weight control, smoking and lack of exercise can affect them as well as the diet.