39,20 €
The aspartate aminotransferase (ASAT) test measures liver function and damage.
Cholesterol tells you about the health of your blood vessels
The total cholesterol measurement shows the total cholesterol value in the blood.
Cholesterol (total cholesterol)
- Human body produces cholesterol on its own but it is also obtained through food.
- There are both good and bad types of cholesterol, and at normal levels cholesterol is essential for our body.
- Elevated cholesterol levels increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
- Blood tests identify elevated cholesterol levels, enabling appropriate treatment.
What is cholesterol?
Cholesterol is a fat-like substance found naturally in every cell of the body. The human body produces cholesterol on its own but it is also obtained through food.
The body is not able to break down cholesterol. It is removed from the body by the liver secreting cholesterol into the bile, either as such or converted into bile acids. Some of the cholesterol is removed from the body in the stool and some is absorbed from the intestine back into the bloodstream.
There are both good and bad types of cholesterol, and at normal levels cholesterol is essential for our body.
Elevated cholesterol increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
Check out the Puhti laboratory package, which includes cholesterol measurement. The laboratory package includes 30 different metrics that provide comprehensive information about the state of your body.
All the tests can be ordered without a doctor’s referral. If necessary, you can have a consultation with one of Mehiläinen’s doctors after the tests as a separate service.
What does total cholesterol mean?
The total cholesterol measurement shows the total cholesterol value in the blood.
There are both good and bad types of cholesterol. LDL cholesterol is the primary measure of “bad” cholesterol and HDL cholesterol is the primary measure of “good” cholesterol.
The triglyceride test is also part of the total cholesterol measurement. The test measures the amount of fats circulating in the blood. Calories that the body does not consume immediately are stored in fat tissue as triglycerides.
Cholesterol is not water-soluble, so it cannot be transported in the bloodstream as such. Cholesterol must become water-soluble, at which point it gets enclosed within transport proteins called lipoproteins and is then carried throughout the body in the bloodstream.
Lipoproteins contain four components: cholesterol, triglycerides, phospholipids, and protein.
Total cholesterol is divided into categories that differ in their function, size, density, and composition.
- VLDL, or very low-density lipoproteins, are produced by the liver and released into the bloodstream. VLDL particles transport triglyceride, which is a fatty substance, to tissues. VLDL and LDL cholesterol are called “bad” cholesterol because they can contribute to the formation of blockages in arteries.
- LDL, or low-density lipoproteins, transport the majority of blood cholesterol and help cholesterol to move from the bloodstream to tissues. Excess cholesterol remains in the bloodstream and can accumulate in the walls of arteries, narrowing them. Thus LDL cholesterol is also referred to as “bad” cholesterol.
- HDL, or high-density lipoproteins, transport cholesterol away from tissues and artery walls back to the liver where it is broken down. HDL cholesterol is known as “good” cholesterol.
Measuring cholesterol
The amount and quality of cholesterol can be measured with blood tests. In the measurement of total cholesterol, the blood cholesterol levels are examined.
Cholesterol measurement (lipid levels) includes the following values:
- Total cholesterol
- Triglycerides
- LDL cholesterol
- HDL cholesterol
- Non-HDL
- Chol/HDL ratio
The recommended values for total cholesterol
The recommended value for total cholesterol is less than 5 mmol/l.
| Classification | Value (mmol/l) |
| Ideal | 3,5 – 5,0 |
| Good | 5,1 – 5,9 |
| Mildly elevated | 6,0 – 6,9 |
| Elevated | 7,0 – 7,9 |
| Significantly elevated | over 8,0 |
The ratio of total cholesterol to HDL cholesterol should not exceed four (4).
The reference values for cholesterol
| Value | Abbreviation | Recommendation (mmol/l) |
| Total cholesterol | P-Chol | under 5 |
| LDL cholesterol (“bad”) | P-Chol-LDL | under 3 |
| HDL cholesterol (“good”) | P-Chol-HDL | over 1,2 women over 1,0 men |
| Triglycerides | P-Trigly | under 2 |
| Non-HDL | Non-HDL | under 3,8 |
Effect of fasting on the interpretation of cholesterol levels
Triglycerides: If you have fasted before sample collection, the reference value is under 1.7 mmol/L. If you have not fasted, the reference value is under 2 mmol/L.
High cholesterol levels
The most common cause of high cholesterol (LDL) is a diet excessively rich in saturated fats. Avoiding hard fats, exercising and avoiding excess weight can affect the quantity and quality of total cholesterol in the body. Opt for soft vegetary fats.
If there is excess LDL cholesterol in the body, it can build up in the arterial walls and lead to a blood clot in coronary or brain arteries. Therefore, it is important to take elevated cholesterol seriously and start monitoring your cholesterol levels regularly.
What are the risk factors for high cholesterol?
Elevated cholesterol is also associated with factors beyond our control. These include age, gender and genetic predisposition.
- Gender. Women’s cholesterol levels often increase after menopause.
- Age may increase the risk of elevated cholesterol. Men aged 45 and older and women aged 55 and older are at risk of high cholesterol.
- Genetic predisposition. The risk of elevated cholesterol may increase if the person’s family member, such as father (before the age of 55) or mother (before the age of 65), suffers from early-onset heart disease.
Elevated cholesterol can also be caused by other factors
Cholesterol can also be elevated in the following situations:
- diabetes
- liver or kidney disease
- hypothyroidism
- polycystic ovarian syndrome
- pregnancy or other life situation that increases the amount of oestrogen or other female hormones in the body
- the use of drugs that increase LDL cholesterol and reduce the amount of HDL cholesterol in the body (progesterone, anabolic steroids and corticosteroids).
In addition, smoking reduces the amount of HDL cholesterol. Quitting smoking is always a good idea.
Symptoms of high cholesterol
High cholesterol is a major risk factor for other more serious diseases but does not in itself usually cause any symptoms. Therefore, high cholesterol cannot be felt or discovered except by measuring the values with laboratory tests.
Regular blood tests will help to identify elevated cholesterol, enabling appropriate treatment.
How can high cholesterol be treated?
Elevated cholesterol is often related to a person’s lifestyle, which is why lowering it begins with changes in diet and daily habits.
- In nutrition, attention is paid to the amount and quality of fats, as well as the sufficient amount of dietary fiber.
- In addition, adding exercise to everyday life can increase the amount of good (HDL) cholesterol in the body.
- Quitting smoking is also an important change as smoking lowers the levels of good cholesterol.
The harmfulness of cholesterol depends on simultaneous factors that damage blood vessels, such as smoking, high blood pressure, and lack of physical activity.
If a healthy person does not have other risk factors, such as hereditary diseases, and their cholesterol levels remain at the recommended level, the primary solution is to lower cholesterol through diet and lifestyle changes.
If a person’s risk of arterial disease is clearly increased, it is even more important to lower their cholesterol levels. This applies to diabetics or asymptomatic individuals who, according to the risk calculator, have a 10% chance of developing coronary artery disease or having a stroke within the next 10 years. Medication is considered to support self-treatment.
The risk is highest in a person who have already been diagnosed with an arterial disease or additional disorders related to diabetes or whose result in the risk calculator is more than 15%. In that case, it is important to lower the person’s cholesterol levels with medication.
Treatment of high cholesterol with dietary choices
Diet affects blood cholesterol levels, especially LDL cholesterol. The tips below can help you prevent and treat elevated cholesterol.
Remember to pay attention to the quality and quantity of dietary fats. The quality of fats obtained from food is good when it mostly consists of soft vegetary fats.
Get started with small steps: replacing products high in hard fats with products high in soft vegetable fats, and making sure that your meals consist of diverse, colourful and fiber-rich foods.
Common sources of hard fats include:
- dairy products
- fatty meat
- animal products
- sausages and similar products
- baked goods
- unhealthy snacks
- ultra-processed foods
The amount of hard fats can be reduced by switching from animal fats to soft vegetable fats.
Vegetable oils, such as olive oil and rapeseed oil, are great sources of soft fats.
Tips to help you reduce the amount of hard fats and increase the amount of soft fats in your diet:
- Reduce the use of animal products, especially animal fats. If you use animal products, choose low-fat products.
- Opt for lean meats, such as chicken and turkey.
- Opt for fatty fish, such as salmon and sardines.
- Avoid ultra-processed foods, such as hamburgers and unhealthy snacks.
- Opt for nuts and seeds as a source of vegetable fats.
- Opt for vegetable oils and liquid vegetable oil products.
- Don’t forget fiber and vegetables. Increase your overall consumption of plant-based foods.
Treatment of high cholesterol with medication
Medication is considered if diet and lifestyle changes do not reduce cholesterol levels sufficiently.
In addition to cholesterol levels, the decision to start medication is affected by:
- overall risk of arterial disease
- elevated blood pressure
- smoking.
What is FH?
FH, or familial hypercholesterolemia, is a cholesterol-increasing disease caused by a gene mutation. FH is one of the most common hereditary diseases, affecting around 10,000 people in Finland. The disease is predominantly inherited, meaning that 50% of the children of those suffering from FH will also have the disease.
In FH, the cholesterol value is often more than 10 mmol/L, but the value can also be lower. With FH, diet and lifestyle do not affect the cholesterol level. The disease is treated with medication. If left untreated, the disease can lead to early-onset coronary heart disease.
How can I get my cholesterol tested?
Check out the Puhti laboratory packages, which include cholesterol measurement.
Cholesterol measurement (lipid levels) includes the following values:
- Total cholesterol
- Triglycerides
- LDL cholesterol
- HDL cholesterol
- Non-HDL
- Chol/HDL ratio
The cholesterol measurement is included in the following test packages:
- Puhti laboratory package
- Extensive Puhti laboratory package women
- Extensive Puhti laboratory package men
Through Puhti as a separate service, you can also easily book a remote appointment with a doctor, during which you can go through all the results.
69,90 €
T4-V, or thyroxine, is a thyroid hormone and its level indicates the activity of the thyroid gland.
Glucose is an indicator of the blood sugar level. Blood sugar affects general well-being and energy levels, muscle and brain function and the feeling of hunger.
40,00 € – 300,00 €
Could a gift for a loved one be about well-being? Through laboratory packages, your loved one will gain knowledge about their own health condition. A Puhti gift card is an excellent gift idea for someone who is interested in taking even better care of their health. The recipient of the gift card must be over 15 years old and have Finnish online banking credentials to place an order on the Puhti online store.
52,90 €
Ferritin is a form of iron absorption and storage. It is a good measure of the body’s iron stores, and low ferritin content is a sign of iron deficiency.
Extensive Puhti laboratory package (men) is a great choice when you want to gain more thorough information about the well-being of your body. The Puhti laboratory package will help you check how your body is doing and make better choices for your health. Several tests are included, such as cholesterol, blood glucose, important vitamins, ferritin and testosterone.
Extensive Puhti laboratory package (women) is a great choice when you want to gain more thorough information about the well-being of your body. The laboratory package will help you check how your body is doing and make better choices for your health. Several tests are included, such as cholesterol, blood glucose, vitamins D and B12, ferritin, and sodium.
35,00 €
Alanine aminotransferase (ALAT) is an indicator of the well-being of the liver and reacts, for example, to long-term alcohol use and fatty liver disease caused by excess weight.
Blood lipid levels are checked when measuring cholesterol. Includes the following tests: total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, non-HDL and Kol/HDL ratio.
99,00 €
Puhti laboratory package includes many different tests that give you a wide range of information on how your body is doing. It includes blood count, cholesterol, blood glucose, vitamin D, ferritin, inflammatory status and tests of the functioning of the thyroid gland, liver and kidneys.
Sex hormone binding globulin is produced in the liver. Its production is regulated by sex and thyroid hormones, insulin and diet. Please note! Any hormonal medication you are using can affect the results when assessing your natural hormonal function.
84,70 €
A more accurate B12-TC2 test (active B12). Vitamin B12 is needed especially for the functioning of the nervous system.
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Article updated:
2 February 2024