Cholesterol Reduction Club

Chances are the next time you go in for a full checkup at your doctor’s you may end up being sent for a cholesterol test.  Monitoring cholesterol is important and can let doctors know when you can be at risk for heart disease.  For patients who have never had a cholesterol test done before it is helpful to know how the test is going to go, how to prepare for it, and why the doctor is ordering the test.

Most doctors recommend that you have your cholesterol routinely tested every five years and if you are a woman over 55 or a man over 45 you should have it checked even more frequently. It’s important to monitor your cholesterol due to the role it plays in heart disease and strokes. All adults over the age of 20 should talk to their doctor about having routine cholesterol checks. Usually your doctor will send you to a lab to have the test done and will have you come back to the office to let you know your results after the test has been completed.

When you are going to have a cholesterol test done there are a few things that you can do to prepare yourself for the test. You should be sure to not make any new diet changes in the weeks before you have your test done. Your doctors will ask you to do a 12 hour fast before the test, which means that you can have nothing but water during those 12 hours. It is also best if you do not drink any alcohol in the three days before your testing is done.  Once you are at the lab for your cholesterol test they will draw some blood, usually from your arm, into a tube and it will then be examined in the laboratory to determine your cholesterol level.

Once you get your results there are a few things that you should know.  If your results fall below the 200 mark then your cholesterol level is considered to be normal. This means that you should only worry about keeping your level low and make sure you do not eat a lot of foods high in fat and cholesterol. If your cholesterol level falls between 200 and 239 you are considered borderline high and should begin working with your doctor to bring your level down. Anything 240 or above is considered high cholesterol and you seriously must begin working with your doctor to bring those cholesterol levels down for the sake of your health.

Having a cholesterol test is very simple, however it is important to know what you have to do to make the test accurate. Always make sure you ask your doctor for any special instructions and about any medications which could alter your results. If you haven’t had a cholesterol test you should not keep putting off this important test. Just having this simple test performed every few years can help in preventing serious health problems later in life.