High cholesterol increases your risk for heart disease and stroke. According to a National Health Survey conducted in 2019 to 2020, the prevalence rate of high cholesterol among Singaporeans is 39.1%. It is important to note that people with high cholesterol usually do not have any signs and symptoms. The only way to know whether you have high cholesterol is to go for a cholesterol test.
Cholesterol is a waxy substance that circulates in the blood. Your body needs cholesterol to build cells, makes vitamins and hormones. However, when you have more cholesterol in your blood than what the body needs, it can get deposited in the arteries. This leads to plaque buildup and puts you at risk for heart disease and stroke. The higher your blood cholesterol, the higher is your risk of getting these problems. Therefore, it is important to have your cholesterol tested as part of staying healthy.
What is cholesterol screening?
Cholesterol screening is also called lipid test or lipid profiling. It is a fasting blood test and measures four types of fat in your blood as described below:
- Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol is called the “bad” cholesterol. Too much of it in your blood causes the buildup of fatty deposits in the arteries which increases your risk of heart attack and stroke.
- High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol is called the “good” cholesterol because it carries excess cholesterol in the blood for disposal in the liver
- Triglycerides. Triglycerides is a type of fat in the blood. High level of triglycerides increases your risk of heart disease.
- Total cholesterol is a sum of your blood’s cholesterol content.
When should I be screened?
Adult 40 years and above are recommended to go for regular screening of cholesterol. Even if your previous test is normal, regular screening is important. This is because screening only detects your cholesterol health at the time of screening.
Consult with your doctor or health care provider if your screening test results are abnormal, even if you feel well. This is because early treatment and control of your cholesterol level can help prevent risk of heart disease and stroke.
Besides high cholesterol, high blood pressure and diabetes are other risk factors for heart disease. For this reason, as part of maintaining good health, you should also check your blood pressure and screen for diabetes as well.
Prevention of High Cholesterol
Lifestyle changes in the form of diet and exercise can help you lower your cholesterol. It can also prevent you from having high cholesterol in the first place. Below are what you can do:
- Eat a balanced diet. Include lot of fruits, vegetables and whole grains in your diet
- Reduce your intake of red meat and full-fat dairy products which are high in saturated fats. Avoid eating trans fats in processed food. Eat more food high in monounsaturated fats (e.g. olive oil) and polyunsaturated fats (e.g. corn oil).
- Maintain a healthy body weight
- Exercise regularly for at least 30 minutes each day
- Reduce alcohol intake, i.e. no more than two drinks a day for men and one drink for women
If lifestyle changes are not enough, medication may be necessary to control your cholesterol.
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