You don’t like visiting doctors and undergoing medical tests? Don’t want waste your time, and keep away from worries in case tests may reveal that something is wrong with you? Many people prefer considered themselves healthy without seeing a doctor, and find out that they have deceases, if they have any, as later as possible. They are like ostriches that bury their heads into the sand at the sign of danger. The reasonable solution is to meet the ailment halfway and get over it, until it gets over you.
Should we analyze the blood for cholesterol ratio?
All adults above 20 must check their cholesterol ratio at least once in 5 years. Men older 45 and women above 55 are to check it more often; it also refers to those whose relatives have high cholesterol ratio. With the help of usual blood test your doctor can measure the ratio of your total cholesterol and hdl cholesterol.
There are following forms of cholesterol in blood: (i) total cholesterol; (ii) ldl cholesterol and ; (iii) hdl cholesterol.
You should do biochemical blood analysis on cholesterol ratio once a year. You can prevent atherosclerosis which may result in heart attack and stroke by controlling its rate. Look carefully after the rate of total (serum) cholesterol. If the result of blood test is 5,2 millimole\l (or 200 mg\dl) or lower, don’t worry: the rate is normal, atherosclerosis doesn’t threaten you the next one or two years.
The ratio from 5,2 to 6,5 millimole\l (200-250 mg\dl) shows that you are at risk of the atherosclerosis development. The result from 6,5 to 8 millimole\l (250-300 mg\dl) – is diagnosed as moderate hypercholesterolaemia. The rate above 8 millimole\l (300 mg\dl) indicates severe hypercholesterolaemia
If your cholesterol ratio exceeds the norm, you will have to undergo the dilated analysis called “lipidic triad”. It helps to find out the rate of “good” and “bad” cholesterol. The rate of “Bad” one must not exceed the level of 3, 4 millimole\l, and the “good” one - drop lower than 1, 6 millimole\l. If the rate of the latter drops lower, you are on the way to the atherosclerosis, even if the total cholesterol rate is normal.
Blood test from finger
You can have breakfast before clinical blood analysis (except the test on sugar content in the peripheral blood). Don’t eat fatty food before going to bed, in order not to provoke leukocytosis – high level of leukocytes. You must not drink alcoholic drinks, bathe in the sun, undergo physiotherapeutic procedures, have X-ray for 2-3 days before doing this analysis; otherwise the results will be vague.
Blood test from vein
The biochemical blood analysis is carried out between 7 to 10 a.m., not earlier than in 12 hours after the last meal (including drinking coffee and tea). You must stop taking medicines for several days before the test. If you didn’t do this, let your doctor know about it.