When not to Worry

When we have a blood test in hospital, via a GP, we often don’t get the full picture of what our results really mean.

Testing high or low for certain things isn’t always bad, says Dr Van De Bossche. “Take cholesterol as an example. LDL (low density lipoprotein) is bad cholesterol but HDL (high density) is good – the more you have, the better.

“If we didn’t have cholesterol, we’d be dead instantly – it’s what makes up the majority of our brain. It is carried through our bodies by lipoproteins but LDL is bigger and can block blood vessels – a red flag for a heart attack or stroke. “But HDL removes LDL from your bloodstream and high levels can lower your risk of heart disease.”