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.
There are two types of cholesterol which can be put into simple terms as harmful and harmless cholesterol. The harmful one is Low Density Lipo Protein which circulates in the blood combining other substances and making the blood thick causing a heart attack. On the other hand the HDL cholesterol takes excess cholesterol to the liver and keeps a check on the blood not allowing it to thicken. This process avoids heart attacks.
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.
Though cholesterol testing can be done once in five years for a normal person, it is highly recommended that patients with high cholesterol level, smokers, diabetics, hypertension patients and those who have crossed the age of 50 should have frequent check ups for cholesterol level. This results in the control of heart diseases and avoidance of heart attacks.
Though regular tests for adults about 20 years is not necessary children need to be screened for cholesterol, especially obese patients who are more prone to diabetes and high cholesterol levels leading to heart attacks, especially in obese children.
If the testing results for cholesterol show a reading like 200mg/dl it is considered normal, 200-239mg/dl too is considered border level and needs caring. But when it crosses above 240mg/dl immediate action needs to be taken to avoid heart attacks. To maintain a perfect cholesterol count much care and attention needs to be taken in the intake of specific foods that contain excess amount of fat.
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information presented herein intended to substitute for the advice provided to you by any health care or other professional
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