Cholesterol Testing The Most Import Aspect Of Life
Cholesterol is basically a steroid found in the cell membranes and is lipid and waxy in nature. Blood plasma carries cholesterol, a product made by the liver, considered to be the most prolifically present sterol in human tissues. Since cholesterol does not dissolve in the blood and high levels of it can clog the blood vessels, cholesterol testing is very important.
Cholesterol can be described in two ways. One is a useful way known as HDL. This HDL helps in returning the excess cholesterol in the blood to the liver where it is flushed out. In this way blood clogging and heart attacks are minimized. But the LDL cholesterol has a way of combining whatever other substance is in the body, to the blood stream. This process thickens the blood and causes blood clogging in the blood vessels. When this happens, heart attacks happen frequently.
Prestigious institutions like American College of Preventive Medicine, American Heart Association, American Association of Family Physicians, American College of Cardiology, and over 40 others have endorsed the NCEP guidelines. Only the American College of Physicians have registered a dissent that cholesterol measurement is unwarranted in young adults and older men.
According to the NCEP, accurate measurements of cholesterol should be done once in 5 years in all adults and the HDL cholesterol should be measured. The NCEP recommends that in this way the mortality and morbidity level of the blood clogging can be reduced and heart diseases can be avoided. For this purpose a Reference Method of Laboratory Network was set up to check the cholesterol levels in patients.
By having a cholesterol test done one can estimate at what risk level one’s heart is. For this purpose regular check ups for cholesterol is essential after the age of 45 in normal people and mandatory for diabetics, hypertension patients, smokers, obese and cholesterol patients. However, for others a regular check up once in five years is sufficient.
Children should be checked regularly for cholesterol since obesity is more active in children, but adults 20 and above need to have a five year check up. Obese children should be taken extra care of and regular food habits should be practiced.
Cholesterol testing results like these shows the level of risk – 200mg/dl means favorable, 200-239 border level, more than 240mg is a high risk factor and it needs to be taken care of seriously. Do regular cholesterol testing and live a happy life.
