Health Information
Cholesterol and Triglycerides Tests
What To Think About
- Chylomicrons are another type of lipoprotein that are measured in a different test. Chylomicrons are in the blood and carry fat from your intestine to your liver. They carry triglycerides to your muscles for immediate use. Or they carry triglycerides to fat tissue for storage.
- Having a high cholesterol level increases your chances of having
a heart attack. The higher your cholesterol, the greater your chances. An
elevated total cholesterol level in younger people is particularly significant,
since the narrowing of the
Reference coronary arteries Opens New Window Reference
Opens New Window usually takes many years to
develop. - Lifestyle changes may help lower blood cholesterol levels and increase HDL ("good")
cholesterol. Some people have better responses to diet and lifestyle changes
than do others. Lifestyle changes might include:
- Quitting smoking.
- Eating healthier by reducing saturated (animal) fats and cholesterol in the diet while increasing fiber and complex Reference carbohydrate Opens New Window.
- Losing weight. An improvement may occur if you lose as little as 5 lb (2.5 kg) to 10 lb (4.5 kg).
- Being active on most, preferably all, days of the week.
- Cholesterol screening is often available in supermarkets, pharmacies, shopping malls, and other public places. Home cholesterol testing kits also are available. The results of tests done outside a doctor's office or lab may not be accurate. If you have cholesterol screening done outside your doctor's office, talk with your doctor about the accuracy of the results.
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