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Health Check

Cholesterol, LDL, and HDL – Blood lipids

Blood lipids—cholesterol, LDL, HDL, and triglycerides—are measured to assess the risk of cardiovascular disease. LDL is the part that builds up atherosclerosis, while HDL transports cholesterol away from the vessel walls.

What is Cholesterol, LDL, and HDL?

Cholesterol is a fatty substance transported in the blood by different particles. LDL carries cholesterol to the tissues, HDL takes it back to the liver, and triglycerides are the body's most common form of fat. ApoB reflects the number of harmful particles and is used as a supplement to LDL.

Why is Cholesterol, LDL, and HDL measured in a health check?

High blood lipids are not noticeable, but they are one of the strongest risk factors for heart attack and stroke. A check provides an opportunity to influence the risk in time through diet, exercise, smoking cessation, and, if necessary, treatment.

High and low values

High value: High LDL, high total cholesterol, or high triglycerides increase the risk of atherosclerosis. Risk is always assessed along with blood pressure, smoking, blood sugar, heredity, and age.

Low value: Low HDL is considered unfavourable because less cholesterol is transported away from the vessel wall.

Reference ranges differ between laboratories, sexes and ages and are stated in your result. The information here does not replace medical assessment.

How blood lipids are measured in a health check

Blood lipids are analysed from a venous blood sample often taken while fasting, mainly because triglycerides are strongly affected by your most recent meal. Total cholesterol, LDL and HDL vary less, but since they're interpreted together as a whole, fasting is the simplest way to get comparable values between different health checks.

Alcohol in the days before the test can raise triglycerides noticeably, and an ongoing infection can temporarily lower cholesterol values. It's a good idea to wait one to two weeks after a fever before taking the test if the aim is to get a representative picture of your normal level.

What the different blood lipids mean

A lipid profile consists of several parts that together describe the risk better than any single value.

  • LDL — transports cholesterol out into the body and is the value most strongly linked to atherosclerosis
  • HDL — transports cholesterol back to the liver; higher values are favourable
  • Triglycerides — strongly affected by diet, alcohol, excess weight and blood glucose
  • Total cholesterol — the sum, which says little on its own without the other parts
  • The ratio between total cholesterol and HDL — a simple way to weigh the overall picture

Risk is always assessed as a whole

A single cholesterol value doesn't determine your cardiovascular risk. Doctors take into account age, sex, blood pressure, smoking, blood glucose, heredity and waist measurement. This is why a health-check blood test is most valuable when blood lipids are analysed together with HbA1c, blood pressure readings and, ideally, kidney function.

It also means that a slightly elevated LDL in an otherwise healthy 35-year-old and the same value in a 62-year-old with high blood pressure mean very different things. Bring the full test result to your doctor if you want a risk assessment.

What you can influence yourself

A diet with less saturated fat and more fibre, regular physical activity, quitting smoking, reduced alcohol consumption and weight loss mainly affect LDL and triglycerides. The effect can often be measured after as little as three months, which makes a follow-up test worthwhile. Hereditary high cholesterol (familial hypercholesterolaemia), on the other hand, responds poorly to lifestyle changes alone and should be investigated by a doctor, especially with early cardiovascular disease in the family.

Frequently asked questions about Cholesterol, LDL, and HDL

Must I fast for blood lipid tests?

Cholesterol and LDL can be measured without fasting, but triglycerides are affected by meals. Many health checks therefore recommend fasting so that all values are comparable.

What is the difference between LDL and HDL?

LDL transports cholesterol out into the body and can be stored in the vessel wall, while HDL carries cholesterol back to the liver. High LDL increases the risk of cardiovascular disease; high HDL is generally favourable.

What does ApoB add compared to LDL?

ApoB measures the number of cholesterol-carrying particles instead of the amount of cholesterol. It can show elevated risk even when LDL looks normal, especially in cases of high triglycerides or diabetes.

Do you have to fast before a cholesterol test?

Many laboratories can produce a lipid profile without fasting, but triglycerides are most reliable when fasting. Follow the instructions for the health check you have ordered.

How quickly can lifestyle changes lower LDL?

Dietary changes and increased physical activity often give a measurable effect within eight to twelve weeks. Repeat the test no sooner than three months later to see the result.

Is high HDL always good?

Higher HDL is generally favourable, but very high values give no extra protective effect. It's the overall picture with LDL, triglycerides and other risk factors that matters.

Health checks that include Cholesterol, LDL, and HDL

Cholesterol, LDL, and HDL is included in 6 of Labkollen's health checks. Analysis name in the result: Apolipoprotein A1, Apolipoprotein B, HDL, HDL-kolesterol, Kolesterol, LDL, LDL-kolesterol, LDL/HDL, LDL/HDL-kvot, S-LDL/HDL, S-non-HDL-kolesterol, Triglycerider.

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Guides covering Cholesterol, LDL, and HDL

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