how cholestrol is measured in humans?

Answer 1

Everyone age 20 or older should have a blood test known as a "fasting lipid profile" at least once every 5 years. This test will measure your:

Total cholesterol

LDL (bad) cholesterol

HDL (good) cholesterol

Triglycerides

A lipid profile is done after a 9- to 12-hour fast, so it's usually best to have it first thing in the morning. Tell your doctor if you were not able to fast.

After you take your blood test, your doctor will discuss the results with you. The numbers the test gives you will help you and your doctor decide what steps, if any, you need to take. Make sure to write down your cholesterol numbers before you leave the doctor's office.

What your numbers mean

Blood cholesterol levels are measured in milligrams per deciliter of blood (mg/dL). Depending on whether or not you fasted before your test, you may only get two numbers (total cholesterol and HDL) or you may get four numbers (total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, and triglycerides).

LDL (bad) cholesterol and triglycerides can raise heart disease risk, so the lower the number, the better.

HDL (good) cholesterol can protect against heart disease, so the higher the number, the better.

The National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP), developed by the National Institutes of Health, has set guidelines for total cholesterol, LDL (bad) cholesterol, HDL (good) cholesterol, and triglycerides. These guidelines put cholesterol numbers in different heart disease risk categories, ranging from normal to very high. While this gives you an idea of where your numbers fall, remember that the same numbers can mean different things for different people. Your risk from high cholesterol is a combination of many factors. Your doctor will look at your numbers and decide on an LDL cholesterol goal for you based on your complete health history.

Total cholesterol level
Less than 200 mg/dL Desirable
200-239 mg/dL Borderline high
240 mg/dL or higher High


Source: National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP)

"Bad" cholesterol (LDL)
Less than 100 mg/dL Optimal
100-129 mg/dL Near optimal/above optimal
130-159 mg/dL Borderline high
160-189 mg/dL High
190 mg/dL or higher Very high


Source: National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP)

Triglycerides
Less than 150 mg/dL Normal
150-199 mg/dL Borderline high
200-499 mg/dL High
500 mg/dL or higher Very high


Source: National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP)

Remember, your doctor will look at your numbers and decide on an LDL cholesterol goal for you based on your complete health history.

"Good" cholesterol (HDL)
60 mg/dL or higher High
Less than 40 mg/dL Low


Source: National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP)

Remember, HDL (good) cholesterol protects against heart disease, so the higher the number, the better.

Answer 2

Hello, I work as a nurse. In most causes we take a blood sample for the testing of Cholesterol, both LDL and HDL. Although, we now have a blood testing kit that is similar to a glucose test where a drop of blood is applied to the end of a stick and the machine gives an instant reading. You may be able to do a search on eBay for one of these if your interested.
I Hope this has helped

Answer 3

Marks S has copied and pasted vast literature already.So i need not add more,except saying that cholesterol has three components-LDL,VLDL and HDL which are measured simultaneously in a blood sample taken after over night fast. LDL should be less than 100 mg/dl ideally and VLDL should be less than 30 mg/dl and HDL should be more than 45 mg/dl.

Answer 4

no, it doesn't, but it does infact cause harn to prts of your body like liver, lungs and heart

Answer 5

complete blood picture.