High cholesterol has become a significant problem in many people today, but not everyone can pinpoint the exact cause of their high cholesterol levels. Many people turn to genetic testing to determine if their high cholesterol is genetic or caused by some other reason that could be treated or cured.
Instead of taking prescription drugs that will only treat the symptoms and not the cause of their cholesterol levels. Here's what you need to know about genetic testing for high cholesterol and how you can benefit from it.
What is
high cholesterol?
High
cholesterol is a condition with an excess of cholesterol in the blood.
Cholesterol is a type of fat that is found in the bloodstream and all cells of
the body. It is used by the body to make hormones, vitamin D, and bile acids.
Too much cholesterol can lead to heart
disease, stroke, and other health problems.
What are
my cholesterol levels, and what do they mean for me
A blood test
determines your cholesterol levels. The results of this test will show how much
LDL (bad) cholesterol and HDL (good) cholesterol is in your blood. A high level
of LDL cholesterol can increase your risk for heart disease and stroke, while a
high level of HDL cholesterol can help protect against these conditions.
You can identify
online lab
test in Pakistan to have your cholesterol levels checked.
HOW IS FAMILIAL HYPERCHOLESTEROLEMIA DIAGNOSED?
If you have
familial hypercholesterolemia, a simple blood test can diagnose it. The test
measures the amount of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol in your blood.
You have familial hypercholesterolemia if you have an LDL cholesterol level of
190 mg/dL or higher.
WHAT ARE
THE SYMPTOMS OF FAMILIAL HYPERCHOLESTEROLEMIA?
If you have
familial hypercholesterolemia (FH), it means that high cholesterol runs in your
family. This condition is also called familial defective apolipoprotein B (apo
B). People with FH have high levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
cholesterol, which is the wrong type.
LDL
cholesterol can build up on the walls of your arteries and form plaque. Over
time, plaque can harden and narrow your arteries. This puts you at risk for
heart disease, heart attack, health diseases and
stroke.
WHAT
CAUSES HIGH CHOLESTEROL?
Many things
can cause high cholesterol. One of the most common is genetics. If you have a
family member with high cholesterol, you may also be more likely to have it.
Other causes include an unhealthy diet, lack of exercise, and being overweight.
How much do I know about my family history of heart disease, stroke, or high cholesterol?
My
grandfather died of a heart attack, and my father has high cholesterol. Other
than that, I'm not sure. I should get a blood
test to find out more. It costs with 20% off for the lab test in
Pakistan! That's an affordable price for peace of mind. The Chughtai lab rates
are very competitive, too!
Do men
have different genes than women?
Men and
women have different genes, which can affect their cholesterol levels. Men tend
to have higher cholesterol levels than women due to their genetic makeup.
However, both gender can inherit high cholesterol from their parents.
If you have
high cholesterol, getting a blood test to check for other health problems is essential. You can also
talk to your doctor about ways to lower your cholesterol.
