Topics 
 
Topics

Cholesterol testing

A lot of patients ask about whether they need this

Cholesterol is a fatty substance in the blood that can clog up the vessels and lead to heart attacks and strokes and other things. It is possible to reduce cholesterol levels a little by eating a  healthy diet (low in fat, high in fruit, vegetables, wholegrain cereals and fish) and taking regular exercise. The important thing to note is that even if your cholesterol is not reduced, doing these things will help you live longer and better. Cholesterol reducing drugs (statins) are prescribed to people at high risk of developing cholesterol related diseases.

We only give drugs if you have a  very high level or if you have coronary heart disease or diabetes. (There are also a few other instances where they might be given).

Everybody wants to reduce their chances of having a heart attack or stroke, but measuring your cholesterol is not going to reduce your chances. If you want to reduce your risk of these diseases the following thing should be done. The most important ones first.

  1. Do not smoke

  2. Take regular exercise that makes you breathless for 20 minutes at least 3 times a week

  3. Be a healthy weight

  4. Get your blood pressure normal (we will check it every 2 years, that is enough)

  5. Check you are not diabetic (we will do urine test every 2 years if you are over 50)

When you have put all these things right you will have reduced your risks as much as you reasonably can. If you then still want a cholesterol test we will do one for you. But you only get one (to make sure it is not very very high and needing drugs), because the above advice applies to everybody whatever their cholesterol level.

This is the advice we give to everybody, whatever their cholesterol level. There is no safe cholesterol level. Everybody should do these things.

Cholesterol reducing statin medication is now available over the counter from pharmacists, Although the dose available is not as large as the dose doctors normally prescribe, it is probably effective at reducing the the likelihood of a heart attack or stroke in anybody who takes it. This will be of most interest to patients who know they are at risk but not sufficiently at risk for us to be able to prescribe it on the NHS. (We are obliged to follow Department of Health guidelines on this).