Cholesterol is necessary for your body to create healthy cells, but too much cholesterol leads to fatty deposits accumulating in your blood vessels. These deposits make it harder for blood to travel through your arteries, which increases your risk of a heart attack or stroke. The problem is that high cholesterol doesn’t result in noticeable symptoms. Regular testing gives you the information you need to protect your heart health before problems develop.
Testing Schedules for Healthy Adults
If you’re a healthy adult without risk factors, you should have your cholesterol tested every four to six years. This schedule works well for people with normal cholesterol levels without conditions that affect heart health. Your healthcare provider uses these regular checks to catch any changes early and help you make adjustments before your cholesterol climbs into the danger zone.
After you turn 40, your doctor will also start working out your 10-year risk of suffering from a heart attack or stroke. This calculation considers your cholesterol numbers along with other variables that impact your cardiac health. The results help determine whether you need medication or if lifestyle changes alone can keep your cholesterol where it should be.
When You Need More Frequent Checks
Some people, particularly those with cardiac disease, diabetes, or family members with high cholesterol, need to monitor their cholesterol levels more often than the standard interval of four to six years. Your doctor will consider any relevant factors to determine exactly how often you need testing.
People being treated for high cholesterol also need more frequent testing. Your doctor uses these results to assess the efficacy of your treatment and to make any necessary changes. The frequency depends on your cholesterol levels and what treatment you’re using to manage them.
Cholesterol Screening for Children and Teens
Kids and teenagers need their cholesterol measured, too. Children should have their first cholesterol check between the ages of 9 and 11. Adolescents need another screening between the ages of 17 and 21. These early tests help identify problems that might otherwise go unnoticed during the years when good habits are forming.
Children who suffer from diabetes or obesity might necessitate more frequent cholesterol screening. Your child’s doctor will recommend a testing schedule based on their physical exam findings, health history, and whether there’s a family history of early heart disease. Between 2009 and 2016, roughly one in five adolescents had unhealthy cholesterol measurements, which shows why these early screenings matter.
What to Expect During a Cholesterol Test
Getting your cholesterol levels checked simply means getting a little blood drawn. A healthcare professional will take a bit of blood, usually from your arm. The process takes just a few minutes, and most people experience only minor discomfort. After your blood sample is collected, a laboratory analyzes it to measure different types of cholesterol in your bloodstream.
The test measures your LDL cholesterol, which people often call “bad” cholesterol because high levels lead to plaque buildup in your arteries. It also measures HDL cholesterol, dubbed “good” cholesterol because it assists in eliminating LDL from your blood.
The test includes your triglyceride levels, which your body uses to generate energy. High triglycerides combined with unhealthy LDL or HDL levels increase your risk of heart problems. Your total cholesterol number represents all of these measurements combined.
Preparing for Your Test
You may be required to fast before your cholesterol test, so you won’t be able to have any food or liquids (other than water) for 8 to 12 hours beforehand. However, newer guidelines show that non-fasting tests can accurately detect high cholesterol in many people over age 20 who aren’t taking cholesterol-lowering medications. Your healthcare provider will tell you if you have to avoid food and drink before your test.
Tell your doctor if you are taking any medicine or supplements before getting tested. Some medications, including birth control pills, can affect your cholesterol readings. Your provider might ask you to stop taking certain medications temporarily before your test.
Risk Factors That Require Closer Monitoring
Several factors increase your chances of developing high cholesterol, which means you need more frequent testing. Smoking, for example, significantly increases your risk, as does being highly sedentary and having poor eating habits. Obesity and diabetes both affect your cholesterol levels and require closer monitoring. Your healthcare provider considers all these factors when determining how often you should have your cholesterol levels checked.
Your provider also looks at whether you’re being treated for high blood pressure and any other health conditions you have at the same time. Family history also matters. If your siblings or parents had early heart disease or high cholesterol, you’re more at risk of developing these problems yourself.
Imperial Center Family Medicine Provides Complete Cholesterol Management
Imperial Center Family Medicine offers complete cholesterol screening and management services to help you maintain healthy cholesterol levels and reduce your risk of heart disease.
Our experienced providers work with you to develop personalized treatment plans that include regular monitoring, lifestyle guidance, and medication management when needed. Contact us today at 919-873-4437 or online to schedule your cholesterol screening and take an important step toward protecting your heart health.