High cholesterol causes heart disease. Reducing cholesterol prevents heart disease. (Law et al BMJ 1994)

Who should be tested?
Everyone. Everyone should know their cholesterol and their blood pressure. After cigarettes these are the major risk factors for heart disease. The UK has one of the highest levels of heart disease in the world.  A survey in 1996 showed 78% of UK men and 86% of UK women had raised cholesterol levels (above 5 mmol/l)(Bowker et al. Heart, 1996).

How are cholesterol tests done?
Cholesterol and other blood fats are tested on a blood sample. NHS GPs can organise this test, or it can be done at the local private hospital. Some pharmacists also offer this service.

How often should it be done?
Cholesterol increases with age. It is worth checking every ten years before the age of 40 and and every five years thereafter.

What damage does cholesterol do?
It is easy to imagine high levels of fat in the blood furring up the arteries to the heart. The actual disease process is more complex and not yet fully understood.

What causes raised cholesterol?
Too much animal fat in the diet, lifestyle, genetic inheritance, climate, lack of exercise, together with stress, too much processed food and not enough fresh fruit and vegetables. For some people with very high cholesterol levels it is largely inherited. Heart disease tends to run in these families. For the rest of us, it is caused by a combination of factors.

What level should it be?

No risk                 4.0 - 4.5 mmol/l

Acceptable:       <5.0 mmol/l

Take action:       5.0.- 5.5 mmol/l   
                                       i) make diet and lifestyle changes
                                       ii) repeat test after 3 months
                                       iii) consider drug therapy

Significant risk   5.5. - 6.5 mmol/l
                                       i) make diet and lifestyle changes
                                       ii) repeat test after 3 months
                                       iii) consider drug therapy

Serious risk:       >6.5 mmol/l
                                       i) make diet and lifestyle changes
                                       ii) start drug therapy
                                       iii) repeat test after 3 months
                                       iv) full  assessment for heart disease  

for  further information about treatment of raised cholesterol
Treating raised cholesterol

or return to 
Screening tests
Health Information