Cholesterol In Blood Test – Why Determining Your Cholesterol Level Matters 

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There is a simple question that we are sometimes asking ourselves: should we bother getting our cholesterol level checked? Getting your cholesterol level checked is vital to maintain your health, whether you’re young or old. Your cholesterol in a blood test can determine the risk of excess buildup of fatty plaques in your arteries. Further buildup leads to blockage throughout the body, which leads to artery disease and heart attack.

Understanding the current level of your body’s cholesterol can help you maintain control of your health. As we can see, the risks of high-level cholesterol status can be fatal and life-threatening in severe conditions. Therefore, going for occasional health checks, including your cholesterol (at least once or twice a year), is a must.

Understanding The Dangers of High Cholesterol

Cholesterol is a type of lipid, a waxy substance and is biosynthesised in all animal cells, which makes it an essential structural component in the cell membrane. While we need to check the cholesterol in a blood test, we must also understand that it also provides a function for our body. The human body needs cholesterol to produce hormones, which act as building blocks and proper digestion of fats. Here are the two primary sources of our body’s cholesterol:

1.The food we consume

2.The production within the liver

However, too much cholesterol can cause excess fatty buildup in the artery wall. The fatty material breaks down and causes a clot to form that can block an artery. The higher your cholesterol becomes, the more you are at risk of experiencing a stroke or heart attack. There are no warning signs of high cholesterol levels. It means you are less likely to experience the symptoms. Hence opting for a cholesterol check is essential to maintain a healthy body.

People with high cholesterol are also prone to other health concerns, such as high blood pressure and peripheral arterial disease. It’s not surprising to see why even many companies require applicants to submit the result of their Singapore pre employment medical check up.

Lowering Your Risk For Cholesterol

It’s vital we familiarise ourselves with the many factors that can increase your cholesterol level. As we have implied earlier, excess cholesterol is linked to heart attack and stroke. Maintaining your cholesterol level will also reduce the associated risks. The primary factors that can increase your cholesterol level are:

  • Diabetes
  • Family history or genetics
  • Smoking
  • Unhealthy and unbalanced diet
  • Old age
  • Obesity or overweight
  • Previous history of having high cholesterol

Apart from opting for cholesterol in a blood test, there are many ways you can do to keep your blood cholesterol at a healthy level. One simple thing you can do is start by choosing more healthy foods. Limiting the consumption of food high in saturated or trans fat, sodium, and sugar is ideal for lowering cholesterol levels.

Another thing you can do is to maintain regular exercise. Exercising helps you stay physically active and helps stimulate enzymes that move LDL cholesterol to the liver. The liver will then convert your LDL cholesterol will for bile digestion.

Getting a health check or screening remains vital for your health. If you are looking for a health screening or IVF in Singapore, visit Sunway Medical Centre for health screening packages.

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