Cholesterol Tests Overview
Body uses cholesterol to produce many hormones, vitamin D, and the bile
acids that help to digest fat. If you have too much cholesterol in your
bloodstream, the excess may be deposited in the arteries of the heart, which
might lead to heart disease.
What is a cholesterol test?
A cholesterol test is a simple blood test that checks the cholesterol levels in your blood. This test is also called a fasting lipoprotein profile. A fasting lipoprotein profile measures:
1.Total cholesterol
2.HDL ("good") cholesterol
3.LDL ("bad") cholesterol
4. Triglycerides
A cholesterol test is done to evaluate a person's risk for heart disease. As per government guidelines healthy adults who are aged 20 years or older should have a cholesterol test done once every 5 years
Cholesterol Tests Preparation
With the fasting lipoprotein profile, you will be advised to not eat or drink (except for water) for 12 hours before the test, and to abstain from alcohol for 48 hours.A cholesterol test without fasting, helps to detect total cholesterol and HDL ("good") cholesterol.
During cholesterol test, a blood sample will be taken from a vein in your arm. To do so, an elastic band is tied around your arm just above the elbow. A needle is then inserted into a vein in your arm near the inside of your elbow. Once the needle is positioned, a small amount of blood is withdrawn and collected in a vial or a syringe. After the blood is collected, the needle is removed from the vein, and the tourniquet is removed from your arm. A small cotton ball is pressed over the puncture site to stop any bleeding. After the bleeding has stopped, a bandage is put on.
It takes only 5 minutes and you might feel a mild pain. After collection of blood sample, you can resume your normal activities, including your regular diet if you fasted.
There is no known major risk in this process except continued or excessive bleeding, especially for those people with bleeding disorders.
The blood is sent to a laboratory for analysis. The results from a fasting lipoprotein profile are usually available within 3 days. Your doctor will interpret your cholesterol levels and discuss any treatment that is required based on these results.
Triglycerides will fall into 1 of 4 categories: normal (less than 150 mg/dL), borderline high (150-199 mg/dL), high (200-499 mg/dL), or very high (500 mg/dL and above).
The risk of cardiovascular disease associated with these levels of cholesterol and triglycerides will depend upon the presence or absence of other risk factors, such as the presence of known cardiovascular disease (eg, prior heart attack or stroke), hypertension, diabetes, cigarette smoking, age, sex, and positive family history. Thus, cardiovascular risk and treatment options must be considered in light of your overall cardiovascular risk profile.
Pulmonary hypertension is diagnosed primarily with an echocardiogram.
Other tests used to diagnose pulmonary hypertension are:
1. Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) to measure your heart's electrical function
2. Right heart catheterization to measure blood pressure inside the heart and blood vessels of the lungs and measure blood flow. This test is performed in all patients to confirm the diagnosis and to help guide therapy.
3. Six-minute walk test on a treadmill.
4.Assessment of how well you accomplish daily living tasks
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