The alert comes as research shows around one in two UK adults are affected by the health condition
NHS GP and BBC Morning Live’s resident doctor, Dr Punam, has issued a warning to anyone aged 40 and over regarding an ‘important’ blood test they should have. The health expert shared the alert during a recent episode of the talk show, speaking with hosts Gethin Jones and Michelle Ackerley.
During her time on the show, she heavily discussed the importance of getting your cholesterol levels checked, as she warns one in two people will have high cholesterol. The condition, known as hypercholesterolemia (specifically high LDL) or hyperlipidemia (high levels of lipids/fats in the blood), puts you at risk of a stroke or heart attack due to excessive fatty buildup in arteries.
High cholesterol is often referred to as a ‘silent killer’ because it often does not present any obvious signs until the damage has already been done. Cholesterol can only be accurately measured via a blood test. For more information, visit the NHS website.
Dr Punam told viewers: “Around one in two of us will have raised cholesterol, and it is a concern because a lot of people don’t even know that they have it.” According to the British Heart Foundation, this high number means that approximately half of all UK adults have a total cholesterol level above the recommended guidelines of 5mmol/L.
The doctor added: “And that’s because we don’t feel cholesterol. So, most of the time, with high cholesterol, you don’t get any symptoms, and what tends to happen is that, over a long period of time, cholesterol can build up in your arteries. It can cause them to narrow and harden, and it can increase your risk of things like heart disease, and you can develop chest pain, pain in your leg, and shortness of breath.”
Dr Punam went on to stress that if you are 40-years-old or over, and you have never had your cholesterol checked, you should “definitely book an appointment to get that done”. She emphasises that it is wise to ask the doctor for a test, especially if you are worried, have high-risk factors, or have a strong family history.
If you are at high risk, getting a blood test once a year is considered reasonable, and some people may need it twice a year if they are on medication or have high levels. Dr Punam also cautions that if you had your cholesterol checked in your 20s and it was okay, that one test is not “viable forever”, and it is good to get it rechecked to understand your baseline.
Gethin Jones asked: “My sister’s quite rightly constantly nagging me to make sure it gets checked, but then how often should you get checked?” Dr Punam replied: “So, in terms of if you are at risk, so if you are over the age of 40, and you’ve never had your cholesterol checked, definitely booking an appointment to get that done is.
“It is very reasonable if you’ve got risk factors, you’ve got a strong family history, because remember, high cholesterol can run in families. So, you could be doing all the right things and discover that you’ve got high cholesterol. So really it’s about getting that blood test.
“If you’re at high risk, once a year is absolutely reasonable; some people might need it twice a year if you’re on medication or have really high levels. It’s really about a sort of individual risk basis that we do that on.”
What does the NHS say about getting cholesterol checked at 40?
High cholesterol does not usually cause symptoms. You can only find out if you have it from a blood test. Your GP might suggest having a test to check if your cholesterol level is high. This may be because of your age, weight or a condition you have (like high blood pressure or diabetes).
The NHS says: “Ask your GP surgery for a cholesterol test if you have not had a test before and you’re over 40, overweight, or if high cholesterol or heart problems run in your family. You’re more likely to have high cholesterol. You can also get a cholesterol test at a pharmacy, but you might have to pay for it.”
How does a cholesterol test work?
There are two ways of having a cholesterol test. One option is to take blood from your arm. The NHS says: “Some blood will usually be taken from your arm with a needle. This is sent to a lab to check your cholesterol level. You should get the result in a few days. You might be asked not to eat anything (to “fast”) for up to 12 hours before the test. But most people do not need to fast.”
Another option is to have a finger-prick test. The NHS explains: “If you’re over 40, you may have a test during your NHS Health Check. You can also get this check at a pharmacy. This is a check-up that can help spot early signs of problems like heart disease and diabetes.
“The test can be done by pricking your finger. A drop of blood is put on a strip of paper. This is put into a machine that checks your cholesterol in a few minutes.”
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: www.dailyrecord.co.uk
