What to Expect at My Cholesterol Test

A cholesterol test is a screening procedure that determines the amount of cholesterol in your blood. It involves a blood test (where a sample of your blood is drawn with a needle into a vial or syringe), typically performed in the morning with a 10-hour fast for accurate results. The entire procedure is relatively painless and lasts only a few minutes to complete.

What is the cholesterol test for? Unlike most other medical tests, it is not used to monitor or diagnose a disease. Checking your cholesterol level is a means for estimating your risk for developing heart disease and cardiovascular problems. As you know, high cholesterol levels are strongly linked with atherosclerosis (hardening of the arterial walls) and heart attack or stroke caused by clots in the arteries.

Who needs cholesterol screening? Just about anyone over 20 years old can have a cholesterol test. Those who have strong family history of cases like juvenile hypercholesterolemia and premature heart disease might need it sooner. A cholesterol check-up is suggested every five years, although an annual check is most ideal especially in:

- Those who smoke - Men aged 45 or older and women aged 55 and older - Those with hypertension - People with pre-existing heart disease

What Cholesterol Tests Check For

Specifically, your cholesterol check will involve determining four components:

(1) Low density cholesterol levels or LDLs

(2) High density cholesterol levels or HDLs

(3) Triglyceride levels

(4) Total cholesterol

It usually takes a few hours to a few days for the results to be available, depending on the clinic or institution where the test was performed.

Interpreting the Results

You would want to see low levels of LDLs (bad cholesterol) and high numbers in your HDL (good cholesterol). There are given values which dictate whether your levels are high or low, or borderline. A total cholesterol level of 200 mg per dL (deciliter) is generally good, while levels of HDL 60 or higher is considered healthy. While these pre-determined values can serve as a guide, it is generally difficult to tell what your risk factors are just by looking at the cholesterol test results. For example, LDLs below 70 are best, but numbers of up to 129 may still be considered healthy for those who don't have existing heart problems.

Only your doctor would be able to paint the entire picture of how your cardiovascular health stands based on what the cholesterol screening results say. Depending on the outcome, your doctor may want you in for some follow-up visit. If you have high levels of cholesterol as indicated in the cholesterol test, your health care provider may recommend a diet for lowering cholesterol.

You may also be prescribed with cholesterol lowering medications or supplements, and suggested with lifestyle changes to improve not only your cholesterol numbers, but your overall health.

One supplement your doctor may talk about is fish oil. If you are trying to maintain healthy cholesterol and a healthy heart you may want to try taking fish oil supplements as part of a heart-healthy diet.

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