What You Need to Know About Cholesterol Screening

If you have been scheduled for cholesterol screening you may be worried that there is something wrong that your doctor is not telling you about. The fact is that there are many things that people do not know about these tests. They can actually be quite routine. However, knowing more about the tests, when they are ordered and when the best time to take one can be, you can be more assured that your test results will be accurate and that you will not need to take medications if they are actually unnecessary.

Tests, which are often also known as lipid profiles, tend to be scheduled routinely about every five years in healthy adults. There are several conditions which may cause a doctor to request them more frequently. These conditions can include a family history of cardiovascular disease, obesity or hypertension in a patient, and diabetes mellitus. If you smoke, your doctor may also be interested in sending you for screening more frequently.

You may think that extremely low levels of cholesterol in your blood mean that you are healthy. While it is true that serum levels below 200 mg/dL are considered good, if they are extremely low this can be a sign that you may actually be suffering from significant health problems. Very low results may mean that you have liver damage, malnutrition or even cancer. You should talk to your doctor about any further testing that may be necessary to find out what is going on in your body.

However, having very low cholesterol may result from a recent illness as well. It is not recommended that someone takes a lipid profile test if they have recently had surgery or a heart attack. In fact, if you have had a system-wide stressor recently you may want to wait six weeks to have your lipid profile performed.

Finally, high results may also be a symptom of other health conditions. A woman who has been pregnant should also wait before having their cholesterol tested since it can elevate your serum levels when you would not otherwise have any issues. As with people who have suffered a serious illness a woman should wait at least six weeks after giving birth before they have their cholesterol tested.

Knowing when and when not to get tested is important. It can mean the difference between needing to take prescription medication and controlling your cholesterol levels through diet and herbal supplements. Your doctor can answer any questions you may have about the timing of your tests and what the results may mean for your health.

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