What Do Your Blood Pressure Numbers Actually Mean?
Sep 8, 2026
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Published on
19/9/2026
The LivingCae Group
Cholesterol is measured with a blood test, and the NHS gives healthy levels as a total cholesterol below 5mmol/L, non-HDL (bad) cholesterol below 4mmol/L, and HDL (good) cholesterol above 1.0mmol/L for men or above 1.2mmol/L for women2. High cholesterol does not usually cause symptoms, so a test is the only way to find out where you stand3.
It is a number worth knowing. The British Heart Foundation reports that high LDL (bad) cholesterol is associated with around 1 in 5 cardiovascular disease deaths in the UK1. Blood Pressure UK's Know Your Numbers Week runs from 7 to 13 September 2026, and cholesterol is the natural second half of that pair - two numbers that say a lot about your heart, and neither of which you can feel.
The NHS sets out healthy levels like this2:
Those are general levels, not a personal target. The NHS is clear on the point: "What is a good target level for you depends on things like your age, whether you have any health conditions and your risk of cardiovascular disease."2
So a result a little outside the table is not a verdict, and a result inside it is not a clean bill of health. It is the start of a conversation with a clinician who can read it alongside everything else they know about you.
HDL is the type the NHS labels good cholesterol, and non-HDL the type it labels bad cholesterol2. Non-HDL is not one single fat: the NHS defines it as "the difference between total cholesterol and HDL"2 - in other words, everything in your total that is not the good sort.
You will also see LDL mentioned, and it is the measure the British Heart Foundation uses for the figure above: high LDL cholesterol is associated with around 1 in 5 cardiovascular disease deaths in the UK1. The healthy levels in the table are the NHS's, and they are written in terms of non-HDL rather than LDL. The two are not the same measure, so an LDL figure on a result should not be read against the non-HDL level above. If your result lists several numbers, the clinician who arranged the test is the person to talk them through with you.
No, and that is exactly why it gets missed. The NHS puts it plainly: "High cholesterol does not usually cause symptoms. You can only find out if you have it from a blood test."3
You could have had a raised level for years and feel completely well, because there is nothing to feel. The same is true of blood pressure, which is why the two are usually talked about together - our companion piece, What Do Your Blood Pressure Numbers Actually Mean?, covers that side of it.
It is a straightforward blood test. Usually some blood is taken from your arm with a needle and sent to a lab, and you should get the result in a few days4. The test can also be done by pricking your finger: a drop of blood goes onto a strip of paper, which a machine reads in a few minutes4.
There is no preparation for most people to worry about, and nothing invasive involved.
The NHS suggests considering a test if you have not had one before and4:
A GP might also suggest a test because of your age, your weight, or a condition you already have, such as high blood pressure or diabetes4. None of that means something is wrong. It means your numbers are worth having on record, so any change can be spotted early rather than late.
Cholesterol is checked as part of LivingCare's Cardiac Blood Tests, rather than as a test sold on its own. The panel looks at several markers of heart health together, including a lipid profile and cholesterol, a full blood count, liver function tests and thyroid function tests - because thyroid issues and inflammation can affect blood pressure and heart rate, and a single figure in isolation tells you less than the picture around it.
Results are reviewed by our clinical team, and if anything needs following up, our consultant cardiologists can see you quickly.
Usually not. You might be asked not to eat anything for up to 12 hours before the test, but most people do not need to fast4. Whoever books you in will tell you if it applies to your test.
Yes. If you are over 40 you may have a test during an NHS Health Check, and you can also get this check at a pharmacy4. Privately, LivingCare's cardiac blood tests are available self-pay, with no GP referral needed. If you are using medical insurance, your insurer may ask for a GP referral letter.
It is the fuller version of one. The British Heart Foundation explains that a cholesterol blood test is sometimes called a lipid profile because it looks at the different fats in your blood5, not cholesterol alone.
If you would rather know than wonder, LivingCare's Cardiac Blood Tests include cholesterol and a lipid profile, and our cardiology service runs at Thorpe Park Clinic in Leeds and Canon Medical Arena in Sheffield. Available self-pay, with no GP referral needed. If you are using medical insurance, your insurer may ask for a GP referral letter. Exceptional care, without the wait.
If blood pressure is the other number on your mind, 24-Hour Blood Pressure Monitoring tracks yours day and night to give a fuller picture than a single reading.
This article is for general information and is not sponsored content.
