Heart disease kills more people in the UK than any other condition. Atherosclerosis strikes many people. It can start at the age of 20 and increases with advancing age. The exact cause is unknown but several risk factors are understood to accelerate the formation of atherosclerosis. Hypercholesterolemia is a major causative factor in CVD. High cholesterol may be the result of an inherited disease or it may result from a diet high in saturated fats. For many people it is caused by a combination of both a high fat diet and an inherited tendency towards high cholesterol.

Cholesterol testing is recommended when you have:

•  Established heart disease (angina, heart attack)
  
  
•  There is a family history of high cholesterol, or of heart disease at an early age
  
  
•  Greater than 35 years of age and have risk factors which put you at an increased chance of developing heart disease
  
  
•  Diabetes
  
  
•  High blood pressure
  
  
•  Smoker
  
  
•  In addition, cholesterol testing is performed if you are following a recommended diet or taking drugs to lower your cholesterol level, to monitor your response to treatment. Total cholesterol may be measured alone or in combination with other tests including HDL, LDL, and triglyceride- often called a lipid profile.

Diabetes is among the more serious causes of CVD. Diabetes is also a very common cause of kidney failure. Identifying diabetes (and hypertension) in the very early stages of kidney disease by testing for and showing the presence of microalbumin helps patients and doctors adjust treatment. With better diabetic control and better control of high blood pressure, the progression of diabetic kidney disease can be slowed or prevented.