Is this new campaign in UK for free cholersterol checks for everybody justified?

Question

It seems a lot of people in the thirty or forty something age group found out from a random checks by a news channel they were bad cholesterol risk, even though they thought they were fit and healthy. In UK today only those over 50 are apparently entitled to a free check, and yet some say "bad cholesterol" poses a series risk to health and life if undetected. There also seems to be a lack of understanding among the population what bad cholesterol means, and I am far from clear on this myself? For example is changing from eating butter to eating Flora margerine good or bad for your cholesterol and is a feee check right? Advice please?

Answer 1

Check this web site about the worlds obsession with cholesterol levels and how it is possibly misguided:
http://www.thegreatcholesterolcon.com/

In answer to the question the "bad" cholesterol is the LDL (low density lipoproteins). Regardless, a cholesterol test isn't truly accurate unless it is a full breakdown of the good and bad levels and taken after at least 8-12 hrs of fasting.

One small change to your diet isn't going to make a major difference to your cholesterol level. In most cases your level is determined how well your body makes and breaks it down. High levels can also be inherited!! ie you could be a 7 stone strict vegan and have a total cholesterol of 9mmols/l and on the other hand be a 20 stone lard eater and have a level of 4mmols/l!!!

Answer 2

Yes it should be free for everyone if they are within the NHS. It is important for everyone to have a cholesterol check every few years regardless of their age and how fit and healthy they may believe themselves to be, probably as important as having your blood pressure checked regularly. But it is inconvenient to have a proper lipid cholesterol blood analysis for many because you have to fast for 12 hours prior to it, and that is something many people just can not handle.

That is I believe why most people do not bother if they think they are OK rather than any cost incurred.The biggest medical issue seems to be the hyperlipidaemia (which means high levels of fat in your blood) and people with these disorders are more susceptible to heart disease and stroke. Such people may or may not need treatment with low fat diets and drugs. At the end of the day it is your own decision to suffer the inconvenience of having a lipid blood test and take any further action thereafter, like changing your diet.

Answer 3

Any free check on your health is an offer you shouldnt refuse, its only being sensible. If there's an negative issue then you will be pointed in the right directions. You say you don;t understand it all, have you not used the web to research anything before? Go to a reputable health care site, such as BUPA, they have loads of information about all sorts of things for free on there, all clearly written out, and there is also, of course, you local GP/practice nurse for health advice. There's so much information out there, there's no reason for anyone not to be able to access it and understand it.

As for cholesterol levels, my mother is teetotal, vegetarian and a non smoker, yet she has high cholesterol despite a healthy diet for years, She's always took care of her health and has never allowed herself to become overweight, yet she has high cholesterol and has had a stroke.....think about it...you only get one life, don't f*** it up

Answer 4

There are some good tips on lower cholesterol here:
http://www.medic8.com/healthguide/articles/cholesterolloweringtips.html

I think that anyone in a 'high risk' category should have their cholesterol levels checked, but I'd want to know the cost and benefits of wide spread testing before I agreed that it should happen.

Answer 5

i`m not 50 but i`ve had a cholesterol check from my GP.if you go to the doctors with a reason to ask for one. ie. overweight, history of heart disease in the family, etc. then you will get the test. it is repeated every 5 years. i had mine because my mum died of heart failure

Answer 6

obesity and overweight are chronic decease in UK and government start the healthy eating program this year