Cholesterol Blood Test: Understand Your Heart Disease Risk Today

Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death worldwide, and Sweden is no exception — according to Hjärt-Lungfonden, roughly 30,000 Swedes suffer a heart attack each year, and many of these events could have been prevented with earlier detection. Cholesterol testing is one of the most important screening tools for heart disease risk because elevated blood lipids often produce no symptoms until a serious cardiac event occurs.

Many people who come to us have been told their cholesterol is high and do not know whether to change what they eat or start medication. Your body needs cholesterol to build cell membranes, produce hormones, and manufacture vitamin D, but when certain types of cholesterol accumulate in excess they form plaques inside your artery walls, a process called atherosclerosis.

Over years and decades, these plaques narrow and harden your arteries, restricting blood flow to your heart and brain. A comprehensive lipid panel goes far beyond the basic total cholesterol number your doctor might check at a routine appointment. Advanced markers like ApoB and Lp(a) offer a more precise picture of cardiovascular risk and can identify individuals who appear low-risk on standard tests but actually carry significant hidden danger.

At Wellth, our cholesterol panels are processed by accredited Swedish laboratories using ISO 15189 standards. Detecting a change early matters because lifestyle changes — including diet, exercise, stress management, and targeted supplementation — can meaningfully improve your lipid profile when intervention begins before damage is advanced.

Key Biomarkers in a Lipid Panel

Total cholesterol

Total Cholesterol provides a broad overview but is not sufficient on its own to determine risk.

LDL

LDL cholesterol (low-density lipoprotein) is often called 'bad cholesterol' because LDL particles carry cholesterol into artery walls where it can accumulate. Elevated LDL is the primary treatment target in cardiovascular prevention.

HDL

HDL cholesterol (high-density lipoprotein) is considered protective because HDL particles transport cholesterol away from arteries back to the liver for recycling. Higher HDL is generally associated with lower risk.

Triglycerides

Triglycerides are fats circulating in your blood that rise after meals, and chronically elevated triglycerides are linked to increased cardiovascular risk and may signal insulin resistance.

ApoB

ApoB (apolipoprotein B) measures the actual number of atherogenic lipoprotein particles in your blood and is considered by many cardiologists to be a more accurate predictor of risk than LDL cholesterol alone.

Lp(a)

Lp(a) — lipoprotein(a) — is a genetically determined particle that significantly raises cardiovascular risk in approximately 20 percent of the population. Lp(a) only needs to be measured once in a lifetime since it is largely unaffected by lifestyle.

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Signs You Should Get Your Cholesterol Tested

  • A family history of heart disease, heart attack, or stroke before age 60
  • High blood pressure or currently taking blood pressure medication
  • A sedentary lifestyle with limited regular physical activity
  • Being overweight or carrying excess weight around your abdomen
  • A diet high in processed foods, refined carbohydrates, or saturated fats
  • Smoking or a history of smoking
  • Diagnosed with type 2 diabetes or pre-diabetes
  • Visible yellowish deposits around eyelids or tendons (xanthomas)
  • Over the age of 40 with no previous lipid panel on record
  • Taking medications that can affect cholesterol levels such as corticosteroids

What Your Results Might Show

Raised LDL

If your LDL cholesterol is elevated above 3.0 mmol/L and your ApoB is correspondingly high, you have an increased number of atherogenic particles that can contribute to plaque formation. Lifestyle changes including increased fibre intake, reduced saturated fat, regular aerobic exercise, and weight management can reduce LDL by 10 to 20 percent in many individuals.

Low HDL

If your HDL is below 1.0 mmol/L for men or below 1.3 mmol/L for women, your protective cholesterol is lower than ideal. Regular exercise, moderate alcohol consumption, and healthy fats can help raise HDL.

High triglycerides

If your triglycerides exceed 1.7 mmol/L, this may indicate excess refined carbohydrate or sugar intake, insulin resistance, or metabolic syndrome.

What affects what

The different parts of the panel respond to different things. Triglycerides often fall within weeks of cutting back on alcohol and sugar, while Lp(a) is set almost entirely by your genes. We go through your results together with your family history and blood pressure, so that you know where you stand before you talk to your doctor.

Your report

Your Wellth report will place each marker in context, compare it to both standard and optimal ranges, and outline specific evidence-based steps you can take.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to fast before a cholesterol blood test?
Yes, we recommend fasting for 10 to 12 hours before a lipid panel for the most accurate triglyceride and LDL readings. Drinking water and black coffee without sugar is fine during the fasting period. Non-fasting lipid tests are acceptable for screening but may overestimate triglyceride levels.
How often should I check my cholesterol?
For adults over 40, testing at least every two to three years is recommended if previous results were normal. If you have elevated cholesterol, a family history of cardiovascular disease, or other risk factors, annual testing is advisable. If you have recently started medication or made significant lifestyle changes, a follow-up test at 8 to 12 weeks can help assess your response.
What is ApoB and why is it considered more accurate than LDL?
ApoB measures the number of atherogenic (plaque-causing) particles in your blood, whereas standard LDL cholesterol measures the amount of cholesterol carried within those particles. Two people can have identical LDL cholesterol values but very different numbers of LDL particles. The person with more particles (higher ApoB) has a greater risk. Many cardiologists now consider ApoB the single best lipid marker for cardiovascular risk assessment.
Can diet alone lower cholesterol, or do I need medication?
For many people, meaningful cholesterol reduction is achievable through dietary changes including increasing soluble fibre, reducing saturated and trans fats, adding plant sterols, and managing weight. However, genetics play a significant role — some individuals produce excess cholesterol regardless of diet. If lifestyle changes prove insufficient after three to six months, your practitioner may discuss statin therapy or other lipid-lowering medications.
Are eggs bad for cholesterol?
For most people, the cholesterol in eggs has only a small effect on blood cholesterol. What you eat alongside them, your overall intake of saturated fat and your genes matter more. Some people do respond more strongly to dietary cholesterol, which is one reason why testing tells you more than general advice. It is a question we are often asked.
Is high cholesterol hereditary?
It can be. Familial hypercholesterolaemia is an inherited condition that affects about 1 in 250 people and causes very high LDL from a young age. A strong family history of heart attacks or strokes before the age of 55 in men or 65 in women is a good reason to test, and to talk to a doctor if your LDL is very high.
What is Lp(a) and why should I test it?
Lipoprotein(a) is a type of cholesterol particle whose level is set mainly by your genes and changes little over your life. A high Lp(a) raises your cardiovascular risk even when your other cholesterol values are normal. European guidelines suggest measuring it at least once in adulthood.
What do high triglycerides mean?
Triglycerides are the fats your body uses for energy, and they rise with alcohol, sugar, refined carbohydrates, extra weight around the middle and insulin resistance. They are also higher if you have eaten shortly before the test. Because they respond quickly to changes in how you eat and live, they are often one of the first values to improve.
What is a good cholesterol level?
There is no single number that suits everyone. For most healthy adults, total cholesterol below 5 mmol/L and LDL below 3 mmol/L are common reference points, but the right target depends on your overall risk, including your age, blood pressure, blood sugar, smoking and family history.
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Wellth Team

Wellth

Our content is written and reviewed by Wellth, and fact-checked against peer-reviewed research and current Swedish clinical guidelines.

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Important to know

Wellth does not diagnose or treat disease. We work with diet, lifestyle and preventive health, alongside the care you already have.

Our reports and sessions do not replace medical advice, and a test result should not be read as a diagnosis. We use both standard healthcare reference ranges and optimal ranges. A value can therefore be normal by healthcare standards and still fall outside the range associated with good health. That does not mean disease, but it can be a chance to act early.

Supplements are only recommended by a nutritional therapist as part of a consultation, never automatically from a test result.

If anything in your results needs to be looked at by a doctor, we will tell you clearly. Contact your healthcare provider if you are worried about your health. Call 1177 for advice, or 112 in an emergency.