#bad cholesterol #good cholesterol #heart+1

How to Take a Cholesterol Test Correctly

October 28, 2025

2 min read

What is difficult about taking a cholesterol test? You just need to get labs done and receive the result a day later. In general, the test works that way, yet there are nuances to understand.

Key takeaways

What is difficult about taking a cholesterol test?
Why do you need a test?
Different types of cholesterol

Who this is for

People exploring Cardiovascular health through bad cholesterol, good cholesterol.

Why it matters

This piece helps you get oriented quickly, then move into a collection or series if you want to keep going.

Article author

Dr. Alexei

cardiovascular surgeon

Why do you need a test?

Cholesterol is an important organic substance that is necessary for the formation of cells of all organs and tissues of the body. However, in excess, it poses a direct threat to health, since it is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Many people believe that high cholesterol only appears in people who are overweight, but this is not true. Cholesterol can be elevated in athletes and fashion models of any age. Therefore, everyone should take a cholesterol test to monitor levels regularly. Men over age 40 and women in menopause should take this test annually, even if there are no significant health problems.

Different types of cholesterol

There are several types of cholesterol, each with its important role:

Low-density lipoproteins (LDL): this type of cholesterol is commonly referred to as "bad" cholesterol. An excess of it can lead to atherosclerosis and other cardiovascular problems. Normal level: 0-3.3 mmol/l.
Very low-density lipoproteins (VLDL): it makes sense to check if the previous test revealed significant abnormalities, as they are the most characteristic indicator of the development of pathological changes in the body. An increase in their number in the plasma means atherosclerosis is present. Normal level: 0-0.78 mmol/l.
High-density lipoproteins (HDL): this is known as the "good" cholesterol because it helps remove LDL from the arteries. Normal level: 1.03-2.59 mmol/l.
Total cholesterol: this is the sum of all types of cholesterol. However, it is not always enough for a complete picture, since it is fundamentally important to understand the exact proportion of "bad" cholesterol compared to "good" cholesterol in the blood. Normal level: 3.23-5.15 mmol/l.
Triglycerides: this is another type of fat in the blood, high levels of which can also contribute to heart disease. Normal level: 0-1.7 mmol/l.

Avoiding errors on the day of the test

To get reliable results, the test should be taken on an empty stomach. On the eve of the test, it is recommended to refrain from physical and psycho-emotional stress. Avoid smoking, coffee, sweet carbonated drinks, and alcohol in the 12 hours before taking the test. If you take any medications regularly, it is necessary to inform your doctor about it, as some medications can affect the result.

You can use home test strips to monitor your cholesterol levels regularly. But they have a rather large margin of error, so to get the most accurate result, you should still have blood taken in a laboratory.

Continue reading

Cardiovascular health#hypertension

Is it Possible to Cure Hypertension?

Hypertension is the most common disease in the world. Many people think it is impossible to avoid high blood pressure in old age. However, hypertension is also found in young people, is a consequence of another disease, and sometimes does not show up at all.

Dr. AlexeiDec 11, 2025

Cardiovascular health#heart attack

Even Slightly Elevated Thyroid Hormone Levels Can Cause Sudden Cardiac Arrest

The risk of death from a heart attack was found to be almost equal in patients with severely elevated thyroxine levels and those whose levels were normal but closer to the upper limit.

DaryaOct 28, 2025

Cardiovascular health#heart

Do I Need To Take Statins To Lower Cholesterol?

"I have high cholesterol, do I need to take statins?" is a question that patients often ask their doctors. The answer is complex, so let’s explore it in detail.

Dr. AlexeiOct 28, 2025

Ornament blog#bad cholesterol

Cholesterol Is the Key to New Treatments for Alzheimer’s Disease and Diabetes

There is no cure for Alzheimer's disease. Researchers around the world have been trying for decades to find a way to fight this terrible disease, which affects more than 5.5 million people in the United States alone. Gregory Thatcher, professor of medical sciences at the University of Arizona, has published a study that breaks new ground in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2).

AlinaOct 28, 2025

Install Ornament to not only read these articles, but also track your health, store test results, and access other useful features

Install Ornament