Lipid Profile Blood Tests Help Detect High Cholesterol to Prevent Heart Attacks

Detection and Risk Factors

Because high cholesterol typically has no symptoms, it can be measured via a lipid profile blood test available at most pharmacies or clinics. Dr Brajesh Mittal, a consultant interventional cardiologist at Medcare Hospital in Al Safa, noted that high LDL cholesterol is one of the most common modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular disease and is increasingly being diagnosed in younger adults.

For most healthy adults, safe cholesterol levels are below 200 milligrams per decilitre of blood, with LDL cholesterol specifically below 100mg/dl and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) “good” cholesterol at 40–50mg/dl or above.

Medical professionals highlight several contributors to high cholesterol and heart disease:

• Dietary factors: Red meat, tropical oils, full-fat dairy, and foods high in added sugars, trans fats, and saturated fats.
• Lifestyle factors: Smoking, lack of exercise, and being overweight.
• Health conditions: Diabetes and high blood pressure.

Prevention and Screening

Dr Adnan Ghazi Alkhalefeh, a cardiologist at NMC Royal Hospital in Abu Dhabi, advises that adults should have their cholesterol checked starting at age 20. He stated that those with a family history of heart disease, obesity, diabetes, or high blood pressure should be screened more frequently. Early identification allows for the use of cholesterol-lowering medications, such as statins, and lifestyle changes to improve long-term heart health.

To reduce risk, doctors recommend maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly, avoiding heavy drinking and smoking, and eating a balanced diet consisting of legumes, whole grains, fruit, vegetables, and healthy fats.

The burden of cholesterol-related disease has risen since 1990, driven by population growth, ageing, and shifts in fertility, education, and income levels. In 2023, heart disease and stroke were the most common causes of death in the UAE.