How Often Should Cholesterol Levels Be Checked?

Cholesterol is distinct from most blood tests in that it is used to estimate risk of developing heart disease. Because high cholesterol is closely linked to cardiovascular diseases, cholesterol testing is considered a routine part of preventive health care.

Recomendations

According to the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP), all adults 20 years of age of older should have their cholesterol checked at least every 5 years. For individuals with elevated risk factors, the test should be performed more frequently.

Types

The recommended test is a fasting lipoprotein profile, which measures your total blood cholesterol level, amount of LDL (bad cholesterol), amount of HDL (good cholesterol) and triglycerides in the blood system.

Function

The test will reveal whether or not your cholesterol levels are at a healthy level. If you body has too much cholesterol, it can build up in the walls of your arteries and lead to severe medical problems, including heart attacks.

Results

Healthy levels of total cholesterol are considered less than 200 mg/dL (milligrams of cholesterol per deciliter of blood). For triglycerides, the desirable level is below 150 mg/dL.

Considerations

To have your cholesterol checked, contact your local provider to schedule a visit. Many blood donation centers also check cholesterol levels on all donors and will provide a phone number where your results can be checked shortly after giving blood.

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