Total cholesterol is the total amount of cholesterol in your blood. Having high total cholesterol can lead to hardening of your arteries, which increases your risk for a heart attack. This test can help you make informed decisions to keep your heart healthy.
Your total cholesterol is the sum of your low-density lipoprotein (LDL, or “bad”) cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein (HDL, or “good”) cholesterol, and is reported as the total cholesterol number.
This test may be helpful for those who:
- Have never checked total cholesterol levels or haven’t checked them in several years
- Have a family history of high cholesterol or heart disease
- Have high blood pressure
- Have diabetes
- Are overweight or obese
- Eat a diet high in fat, processed foods, or sugar
- Don’t get enough physical activity
- Smoke or use tobacco
To receive individual LDL and HDL levels please see our Cholesterol Test Panel.
Fasting is strongly recommended, but not required for this test for 8-12 hours before your appointment. Fasting before a blood draw means you don’t eat or drink anything except water.
