Since there are no symptoms, the only way to diagnose high cholesterol is to have a blood test. Although there are physical clues such as chest pain that alert us to whether or not we may be at risk for heart disease or high cholesterol, you can only get a definitive answer when your doctor conducts diagnostic tests.
It's important to know your other risk factors, including your levels of cholesterol, since your doctor needs to put these pieces together to paint a picture of your overall risk for heart disease. The more risk factors you have, the more determined you need to be to stay healthy. Obesity or being heavy is only one of many risk factors for high cholesterol and heart disease.
To check your cholesterol level, your doctor will order a cholesterol test, which is a simple blood test, to measure your total cholesterol level and your LDL and HDL levels. Before the test, your doctor will also tell you how to prepare for this test and what you can expect from the test. The cholesterol test is also sometimes referred to as the lipid
test, or your lipid or cholesterol profile.
Another test, known as a coronary angiography, is a more detailed test that is sometimes ordered, especially if you have chest pain, to determine the severity and progression of your heart disease by looking at the degree of damage to your arteries and blood vessels. This test will help your doctor determine what treatment option is most suitable for you.