How can I check my cholesterol?

High cholesterol in the UK is common.

But there are simple things you can do to help bring your cholesterol down to a healthy level. So, let’s have a look at the different types of cholesterol, how to check your cholesterol and how you can lower bad cholesterol.

We'll explain:

• What is cholesterol?
• What are the different types of cholesterol?
• What causes high cholesterol?
• Cholesterol and thyroid
• Can I lower my cholesterol?
• How can I check my cholesterol levels?

What is cholesterol?
 

Cholesterol is a fatty substance in our blood, produced naturally in the liver. Everyone has cholesterol because every cell in our body needs it to stay healthy. Cholesterol plays a vital role in maintaining our cell membranes, and the production of vitamin D and bile acid; it is used to produce many hormones, such as testosterone and oestrogen.

So why all the bad press? Well, there are two types of cholesterol – good cholesterol and bad cholesterol. And too much bad cholesterol gets stuck to the walls of your arteries, increasing your risk of heart disease or stroke.

What are the different types of cholesterol?

As cholesterol travels around our bodies in the blood and is bound to small proteins called lipoproteins.

The main types of cholesterol are: 

• Low-density lipoproteins (LDLs) — “bad cholesterol” 
• High-density lipoproteins (HDLs) — “good cholesterol” 

Good cholesterol collects fatty substances from the arteries and organs and carries them back to the liver where they can be flushed from the body. Higher levels of HDL can lower your risk of heart disease and stroke.  

On the other hand, bad cholesterol carries fatty substances from the liver (where it’s made) to various tissues where it can be used by the cells. If you have a surplus of bad cholesterol, it builds up around the organs and along the blood vessels — this can block up the arteries and put you at greater risk of heart disease and stroke.

Although high levels of LDL in our bodies have a negative effect, these proteins are still important for our health as, at low levels, they are useful in the production of vitamin D and steroid hormones.

Another type of lipid are triglycerides. Triglycerides are a type of fat that store unused calories as an energy source for the body when it needs it. Similar to other bad cholesterol, having high levels of triglycerides can be harmful to your health.

And finally, non-HDL cholesterol encompasses all the other lipids and fats (such as very low-density cholesterol (VLDL) in your body; it's your total cholesterol minus HDL.

What affects cholesterol levels in the body? 
 

Several factors can increase your risk of high cholesterol.

These include:

• Smoking – smoking makes your LDL cholesterol ‘stickier’ – so it clings to your artery walls and also lowers your level of HDL cholesterol [3].
• Diet – medical professionals currently believe that eating too much saturated fat (found mainly in animal foods) can raise your cholesterol.
• Obesity – having a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or greater puts you at a higher risk of having high cholesterol.
• Lack of exercise – exercise helps boost the amount of your body’s HDL, or ‘good’, cholesterol [4].
• Age – as you age, your liver becomes less able to remove cholesterol from the blood, increasing the likelihood of having high cholesterol [5].
• Menopause - women may find that their cholesterol levels rise during menopause. Research has found that menopause is associated with a more “atherogenic” (potentially damaging) lipid profile [6]. It may be beneficial that women monitor cholesterol levels as they enter the menopausal transition to assess their risk of heart attack and stroke.
• Genetics – a genetic predisposition to high cholesterol levels and a family history may increase your risk.
• Thyroid disease -hormones produced by our thyroid gland play a major role in the regulation of metabolism and aid the breakdown of fats, including cholesterol. If your thyroid gland is under or overactive, the body's ability to process cholesterol can be affected, and this may lead to hypercholesterolemia (high cholesterol levels).
• Diabetes -people with uncontrolled diabetes, who have persistently high sugar levels in their bloodstream are more likely to have unhealthy cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

Is it possible to lower cholesterol?
 

It is possible to get your cholesterol back to a healthy level through healthy swaps. For instance, you can lower your cholesterol by making minor changes to your diet and lifestyle choices [2].

Foods containing saturated fats, including red meat, cheeses, fats, and oils, contain high amounts of cholesterol. Whereas animal products and plants do not contain cholesterol. Eating fresh fruit, vegetables, seeds, nuts, and whole grains can help to lower cholesterol. Reducing alcohol intake and exercising more also help to lower the risk of cholesterol-related diseases.

Ways to lower cholesterol:

• Changing what you eat
• Reducing how much alcohol you drink
• Being more active
• Stopping smoking

The Mediterranean diet can be a good way to follow a cholesterol-healthy lifestyle.

How can I check my cholesterol levels?
 

Because there are no obvious signs of high cholesterol in our bodies, the only way to check cholesterol is through a blood test.

With an at-home Cholesterol Blood Test, you can measure your levels of triglycerides, LDL and HDL cholesterol, as well as determine your risk of heart disease based on the ratio of total cholesterol to HDL cholesterol. You'll find out whether you have an ideal cholesterol level (where it falls within the normal/healthy range) or whether your cholesterol level is out of range. 

Our cholesterol test also checks for non-HDL cholesterol, which is calculated by subtracting your HDL cholesterol result from your total cholesterol. It, therefore, includes all the non-protective and potentially harmful cholesterol in your blood and is an effective marker for cardiovascular risk.

Do cholesterol levels differ for men and women?

Women naturally have higher HDL cholesterol levels than men due to hormonal differences [7]. Women should aim for an HDL cholesterol level above 1.2mmol/L while men should aim for above 1mmol/L.

Can pregnancy affect my cholesterol levels?

During pregnancy, cholesterol and triglyceride levels increase naturally. As the pregnancy develops, there is increased availability of nutrients for the placenta to support the growth and development of the baby [8].

This temporary increase is normal and poses no harm to the baby or mum. We recommend having your cholesterol levels checked three months after you have given birth.

What should I do if my cholesterol is raised?

If your cholesterol levels are raised, it’s best to discuss this with your GP, particularly if you have other risk factors, like high blood pressure, diabetes, or if you smoke. 

It’s likely your GP will recommend lifestyle changes for a few months before repeating your cholesterol measurement. If there has been little improvement and you’re deemed high risk, they may suggest cholesterol-lowering medication, such as a statin.

 References

1. NHS. High cholesterol - Cholesterol levels . In: nhs.uk [Internet]. 28 May 2019 [cited 2 Sep 2025].
2. Independent Nurse. Millions of people with cardiovascular disease could benefit from new cholesterol treatment . In: Independent Nurse [Internet]. 15 Dec 2023 [cited 2 Sep 2025].
3. HEART UK. Quit smoking . Heart UK [Internet]. [cited 2 Sep 2025].
4. Mann S, Beedie C, Jimenez A. Differential Effects of Aerobic Exercise, Resistance Training and Combined Exercise Modalities on Cholesterol and the Lipid Profile: Review, Synthesis and Recommendations . Sports Med. 2014;44:211–221. doi:10.1007/s40279-013-0110-5
5. Morgan AE, Mooney KM, Wilkinson SJ, Pickles NA, Mc Auley MT. Cholesterol metabolism: A review of how ageing disrupts the biological mechanisms responsible for its regulation . Ageing Res Rev. 2016;27:108–124. doi:10.1016/j.arr.2016.03.008
6. Anagnostis P. Effects of menopause, gender and age on lipids and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol subfractions . Maturitas. 2015;81:62–68. doi:10.1016/j.maturitas.2015.02.013
7. Rossouw JE. Hormones, genetic factors, and gender differences in cardiovascular disease . Cardiovasc Res. 2002;53:550–557. doi:10.1016/s0008-6363(01)00478-3
8. HEART UK. Cholesterol and triglycerides during pregnancy . Heart UK [Internet]. [cited 2 Sep 2025].