How is it diagnosed?

By attending an authorized health care provider, you may have a simple blood test, called a lipid profile, to measure your cholesterol levels. ³

Talk to your doctor or your authorized health care provider about how you should prepare for your cholesterol test.

This cholesterol test allows you to measure the following:³

• LDL: Maintaining high LDL cholesterol levels can lead to plaque formation in your arteries and result in heart disease or stroke
• HDL: Maintaining high levels of HDL cholesterol can help reduce the risks of heart disease or stroke
• Triglycerides: is a type of fat in the blood, which the body uses for energy. Maintaining high triglyceride levels, along with low HDL levels and high LDL levels, can increase your risk of heart disease or stroke
• Total cholesterol: The total number of cholesterol in your blood based on HDL, LDL and triglyceride numbers

WHY IS EARLY DIAGNOSIS OF HIGH CHOLESTEROL IMPORTANT?

If you are suffering from high cholesterol it is important to be diagnosed as soon as possible given that the faster you start changing your lifestyle habits and taking treatment the repercussions may be less.

Many patients not knowing that they have high cholesterol continue with a lifestyle that contributes to the appearance of a hard, thick plaque inside the arteries and this can narrow the arteries and make them less flexible, this is called atherosclerosis.⁴

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References

1. American Heart Association. (2017). Control your Cholesterol. Retrieved from American Heart Association: https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/cholesterol/about-cholesterol
2. GW Heart and Vascular Institute . (2019). Colesterol en la Sangre. Retrieved from GW Heart and Vascular Institute : http://www.gwheartandvascular.org/education/en-espanol/enfermedades/enfermedades_prevencion_cambios/enfermedades_prevencion_cambios_dieta/enfermedades_prevencion_cambios_dieta_colesterol/
3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020). Getting your cholesterol checked. Retrieved from CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/cholesterol/cholesterol_screening.htm
4. Healthwise. (2019). Aterosclerosis. Retrieved from Cigna: https://www.cigna.com/individuals-families/health-wellness/hw-en-espanol/temas-de-salud/aterosclerosis-ue4664abc
5. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020). Knowing your risk for high cholesterol Retrieved from CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/cholesterol/risk_factors.htm
6. American Heart Association. (2018) Cholesterol Medications. Retrieved from AHA: https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/cholesterol/prevention-and-treatment-of-high-cholesterol-hyperlipidemia/cholesterol-medications
7. Mayo Clinic. (2017). Niveles de Colesterol Alto. Retrieved from Mayo Clinic: https://www.mayoclinic.org/es-es/diseases-conditions/high-blood-cholesterol/symptoms-causes/syc-20350800

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