What it means
کلسترول (kolesterol) means cholesterol, the waxy fatty substance found in the blood and in cells. The word was coined in French scientific literature in the early 19th century from the Greek roots “chole” (bile) and “stereos” (solid), and it entered Persian through modern medical vocabulary as a French borrowing. In Persian medical practice a distinction is made between کلسترول خوب (kolesterol-e khub, HDL) and کلسترول بد (kolesterol-e bad, LDL). These phrases are used routinely in doctor consultations and lab reports.
How to use it
- کلسترولم بالاتر از حد نرمال بود. (Kolesterol-am bâlâtar az hadd-e normal bud.) “My cholesterol was above the normal range.”
- باید کلسترول بد رو پایین بیاری. (Bâyad kolesterol-e bad ro pâyin biâri.) “You need to bring down your bad cholesterol.”
- دکتر گفت رژیم بگیرم تا کلسترولم کم بشه. (Doktor goft rezhim begiram tâ kolesterol-am kam beshe.) “The doctor said I should diet so my cholesterol goes down.”
- آزمایش کلسترول نشون داد HDLم خوبه. (Âzmâyesh-e kolesterol neshun dâd HDL-am khube.) “The cholesterol test showed my HDL is good.”
Cultural note
High cholesterol is frequently discussed in Iranian family health conversations, often alongside دیابت and فشار خون as a trio of chronic conditions that “go together.” Dietary habits, including generous use of cooking oil, ghee (روغن حیوانی), and lamb fat in traditional Persian cooking, are recognized risk factors. Blood lipid panels (آزمایش چربی خون) are a standard part of annual health screening in Iran.