Diagnosing High Cholesterol
To diagnose hypercholesterolemia (high cholesterol), healthcare providers may perform examinations, screening tests, and procedures. These help confirm the diagnosis and determine the type and severity of hypercholesterolemia. Healthcare providers involved in diagnosing hypercholesterolemia may include nurses, physician assistants, lab technicians, and doctors.
Here are some of the examinations, screening tests, and procedures that may be done to diagnose hypercholesterolemia:
- Laboratory Tests: Lab tests are ordered by healthcare providers to check samples of blood, urine, or body tissues. Blood tests are used to measure cholesterol levels in the blood. A “lipid panel” will measure the levels of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-cholesterol, or “bad” cholesterol), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-cholesterol, or “good” cholesterol), and triglycerides, which is another type of fat in blood.
- Medical History: The healthcare provider may gather information about your dietary and physical activity habits and family history of high cholesterol.
- Physical Exam: During a physical exam, the healthcare provider will look for physical signs of a medical problem related to hypercholesterolemia. In many people, there are no physical signs of high cholesterol. Some people may have cholesterol deposits in the skin or around the eyelids.
Other examinations or tests may be performed based on initial findings or individual factors. Results of these examinations, tests, and procedures can provide valuable information for diagnosing and determining factors related to hypercholesterolemia and enable the healthcare professional to provide personalized advice based on an individual's specific situation and medical history.