Cholesterol Screening

Cholesterol in the blood is known as a waxy substance that is needed to make hormones and other vitamins, including Vitamin D¹.

Cholesterol is produced by your body, but it is also found in some foods.

Too much cholesterol can put you at risk of heart disease.

¹Heart Foundation, Blood Cholesterol, accessed 4 May 2023

There are two different types of cholesterol. They are low density lipoprotein (LDL cholesterol) and high density lipoprotein (HDL cholesterol)¹.

Low density lipoprotein is known as the 'bad cholesterol' as it can stick to the walls of the arteries and cause fatty deposits called plaque. Too much bad cholesterol can lead to blockages that prevent blood flow to your heart.

LDL cholesterol builds up fatty deposits in your coronary arteries, which impacts blood flow.

High density lipoproteins are known as the 'good cholesterol' as it carries LDL cholesterol away from the arteries and back to the liver so it can be broken down and passed as waste.

¹Heart Foundation, Blood Cholesterol, accessed 4 May 2023

Unfortunately, high cholesterol levels don't have any obvious symptoms¹, but it is known to increase the risk of serious health problems, including heart disease, stroke or a heart attack.

¹WA Department of Health, High cholesterol, accessed 4 May 2023

There's no single cause of high cholesterol¹. However, there are some risk factors that can put you at increased risk, including²:

• Age

• Smoking

• An unhealthy diet that's high in saturated fat

• Little to no physical activity

• Being overweight or obese

• Having a family history of high cholesterol levels

Too much cholesterol circulating in your blood can lead to other health problems, including coronary heart disease or a heart attack.

¹WA Department of Health, High cholesterol, accessed 4 May 2023

²Heart Foundation, Blood Cholesterol, accessed 4 May 2023

There is a range of foods that are high in saturated fat, which means that they are also high in LDL cholesterol. Some foods include¹:

• Fatty meats

• Snack foods like chips

• Processed meats
  Cakes, biscuits and pasteries

• Most takeaway foods, including deep fried foods

• Eggs, as people who are at high risk of cardiovascular disease may have a maximum of 7 eggs per week

There are also some foods that help with cholesterol levels, including²:

• Sunflower or safflower oil is known to reduce LDL cholesterol

• Eating oats and legumes, which can also reduce LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol)

• Fresh fruit, vegetables and whole foods, which can help you get into a habit of healthy eating

• Oily fish

• Herbs and spices to flavour your meals instead of salt, which can cause high blood pressure³

¹Heart Foundation, Blood Cholesterol, accessed 4 May 2023

²Healthdirect, Cholesterol, accessed 4 May 2o23

³Better Health Victoria, Cholesterol, accessed 4 May 2023

There are a range of health problems associated with high blood cholesterol levels, including¹:

• Coronary heart disease

• Blood clots

• Stroke

• Narrow arteries that have plaque buildup, known as atherosclerosis²

Atherosclerosis can lead to serious health problems, including³:

• Coronary artery disease, known as blocked blood flow to your heart,

• Peripheral artery disease, known as blocked blood flow to your legs and arms

• Carotid artery disease, known as blocked blood flow to your brain

In some cases, the plaque build-up can break off and leave behind a damaged blood vessel. This is where blood clots are formed, as your body tries to repair some of the damage caused by the plaque buildup. Sometimes, the blood clot can stop all or some of the blood flow³.

1Healthdirect, Coronary heart disease and atherosclerosis, accessed 4 May 2023

2Healthdirect, Cholesterol, accessed 4 May 2o23

3Cleaveland Clinic, Cholesterol numbers and what they mean, accessed 4 May 2023

Cholesterol levels are measured through a blood test. Usually, your blood test measures the following¹:

• Total cholesterol levels

• HDL cholesterol levels

• LDL cholesterol levels

• Triglycerides, which are another type of fat in the blood

Your doctor will take you through your cholesterol readings and recommend what your healthy range of cholesterol is. This is due to guidelines that vary for target cholesterol levels based on your age, family history and more.

The Cholesterol Screening test offered by Blooms The Chemist Pharmacists checks your Total Cholesterol levels.

If you're after a more in-depth cholesterol screening, please visit your doctor.

¹Heart Foundation, Blood Cholesterol, accessed 4 May 2023

As there are many factors that influence your cholesterol levels, what may be healthy for you isn't healthy for another person.

Please speak with your doctor about what is a healthy level of cholesterol for you¹.

However, some health advice suggests that your total blood cholesterol levels should be lower than 5.5mmol/L, if you have no other risk factors.

However, if you have cardiovascular risk factors, including high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes or if you smoke, your LDL cholesterol level aims are ideally less than 2 mmol/L¹.

As high blood cholesterol levels are a major health concern for Australians, research has shown that approximately half of all adult Australians have a blood cholesterol reading of above 5 mmol/L².

¹Better Health Victoria, Cholesterol, accessed 4 May 2023

²Healthdirect, Cholesterol, accessed 4 May 2023

You can lower cholesterol levels in a variety of ways, including¹:

• Eating a heart-healthy diet that is high in fibre

• Reduce the amount of saturated fat you're eating, including meat, cakes and biscuits, butter and full-fat dairy products

• Increase your physical activity, which can improve your heart-healthy weight

• Maintain a healthy weight

• Stop drinking alcohol, or at least reduce your alcohol intake to no more than one or two drinks per day

• Monitor your blood cholesterol levels through testing²

• Making lifestyle changes, including a healthy diet full of vegetables, fruits and foods that are enriched with plant sterols

• Taking cholesterol-lowering drugs with the supervision of your doctor

By getting active, monitoring your cholesterol levels and making lifestyle changes, you are controlling some of the risk factors that can result in high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels.

¹Better Health Victoria, Cholesterol, accessed 4 May 2023

²WA Department of Health, High cholesterol, accessed 4 May 2023

For some people, making lifestyle changes and changing your diet isn't enough to lower cholesterol levels, which is where doctors can intervene.

Your doctor will let you know if you need medication to manage your high cholesterol levels¹.

If you're at risk of coronary heart disease and your LDL cholesterol levels don't drop after making significant lifestyle changes, you may be recommended statins.

Statins slow the amount of cholesterol that's made in your liver, which lowers the LDL cholesterol levels in your blood.

However, exercising and healthy eating is still important to help reduce your cholesterol levels.

Your doctor may also refer you to a specialist that focuses on cardiovascular disease so you're able to get the treatment you need².

¹Better Health Victoria, Cholesterol, accessed 4 May 2023

²WA Department of Health, High cholesterol, accessed 4 May 2023