Cholesterol test important for good health

A cholesterol test should be part of your doctor’s preventative medicine plan. While the test does not diagnose a specific disease, high cholesterol can cause a clogging of your arteries, and can lead to a heart attack or stroke if not addressed.

You should have a cholesterol test once every five years. The test is usually performed as part of a full physical exam. Patients who have a history of high cholesterol in their families or related diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease should be tested more often. Those who have been previously diagnosed with high cholesterol and are on medication need to be tested several times a year.

The cholesterol test measures total cholesterol, as well as three other variables: the ‘bad’ low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, the ‘good’ high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, and your triglyceride levels. LDL is the type of cholesterol that clogs arteries that can lead to a heart attack or stroke, while HDL helps to remove the LDL cholesterol from your arteries. Triglycerides can cause blood clots to occur, and when combined with high LDL levels, can greatly increase your risk of heart disease.

Do not go for your cholesterol test while you are ill or are recovering from an illness. Cholesterol tends to be lower after a heart attack, during serious illness, or when the patient is suffering from stress. It is therefore recommended that you wait six weeks after recovery before having your cholesterol tested.

Pregnancy is another situation that can affect the results of a cholesterol test. Cholesterol levels tend to be higher during a pregnancy, especially during the last six months before giving birth. New mothers should wait six weeks after their child is born before having their cholesterol tested.

Cholesterol does not have any telltale symptoms, so getting a cholesterol test is the only way of knowing if you have high cholesterol.

Cholesterol test important for good health

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