Cholesterol tests

[237SJ]

I am curious to know what my blood cholesterol levels are. I don`t eat much saturated fat but I`d just like to know. I would prefer the results to be broken down into HDL and LDL if possible. Is there a walk-in cholesterol testing service anywhere? I don`t want to go to the GP for something I`m merely curious about. I know you can get home tests but the Boots website says they`re not brilliant.

[boxtops]

There are walk-in vans from time to time, usually the heart foundation or similar, it costs £10 - but it's nothing if you go to the GP. I wouldn't think they think it's time wasting, health promotion and prevention is high on their agenda at the moment!

[237SJ]

You`re right there Boxtops. Prevention is cheaper than cure. I remember I had a test donkey`s years ago at Holland and Barratt but thinking about it now, their test probably wasn`t much more sophisticated than the home one.

[237SJ]

I am aware of the risk factors for high cholesterol. I have none of them. Saturated fat would be my only one so I`m curious to see if having allowed it to creep into my diet from time to time has had any effect.

[boxtops]

Interestingly, my GP ran some blood tests for me a couple of years ago for something completely different, and thought he'd do this one while they were testing for the rest - the only thing they found wrong was raised cholesterol. I don't eat much saturated fat either, but I'm now trying to correct it with diet - statins worked at bringing it down, but didn't suit me.

[237SJ]

When Holland and Barratt did mine is was 2.4mml but that must have been about 18 years ago. I`d be interested to see if it has gone up. I expect it probably has. It can be hereditary. Maybe that was so in your case boxtops.

[boxtops]

No, I don't think so - nobody else in my family has had this problem as far as I know. Mine was 7.4 two years ago - 5 is the risky level apparently - so I needed to do something about it!

[ubasses]

NHS are doing helth checks at the moment, we had one in the village hall a couple of weeks ago. May be worth seing if there is anything in your area that you could attend. they did height weight and waist measurement followe by blood sugar, blood pressure and cholestrol tests both HDL and LDL which they gave a printout of. Also took family history. Then i was told I had 5% chance of stroke in next 10 years, mainly down to family history.

[237SJ]

Thanks ubasses. I`ll look out for that.

[KARL]

I went to my GP and asked for a cholesterol test. My blood pressure was taken (easily within normal limits) and then I was asked do I smoke or have I ever (no), is there a history of strokes or heart attacks in my family (no), what is my height and weight (not overweight by definition). The upshot was that in the light of this they would not take a blood sample for analysis - I am not at risk, I was told. I felt somewhat disappointed because like you I wanted to know, and still do.

[Sqad]

Karl....I do not know how old you are, but if you are 65years old or over, then I agree with your medical management.

[237SJ]

I`ve come up with a cunning plan as to where I can get my test done. All I need to know is, is it a fasting test and if so, how long do I have to fast for?

[Sqad]

Fast the night before after dinner.........no breakfast.........then have it done about 9.am or thereabouts.

[237SJ]

Thanks sqad.