Cholesterol Blood Test Questions Answered

Sunday, April 6th, 2008 Subscribe To Our Feed

Answering:

When should I undergo a cholesterol blood test?
What would the results say about my health?
How many tests are there and which will give me the best results?

Unlike any other health tests, a cholesterol blood test does not diagnose a patient with a specific disease. Instead, the results refer more to the risks of developing a disease, namely, heart disease. A test is considered necessary in preventive health care because a high cholesterol results in accumulations of on the walls of the arteries which suppresses the blood flow and can later bring about heart attacks or strokes.

A cholesterol blood test is advised for all individuals who are over 20 years old. It is also recommended that they go through this test once every five years from thereon. However, for patients who have been given medications and strict diet, these tests are being done several times in one year.

Cholesterol tests look at the levels of HDL, LDL, and triglycerides. These tests are also known as the lipoprotein profile. However, experts suggest that when you have a cholesterol test you should always include the direct measured LDL. Other tests may not be as precise as this method, although this test is often more expensive. Bear in mind, when considering the results that stress or acute illness can affect the numbers you receive. This is because the blood cholesterol level is temporarily low at these instances. A Cholesterol test should be done at least 6 weeks after any stressful time or illness or when a person is healthy, to obtain the most reliable result.

Some people believe that eating prior to getting a cholesterol blood test will have an impact on the triglyceride level which is a component of the total blood cholesterol number. An increase in the triglyceride level increases the total blood cholesterol number, thus your results will tell you that you have a higher risk of developing a heart disease. However, most experts say it is not necessary to fast just before a test. They say that a single meal does not influence the cholesterol level although long term eating habits do.

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