One of the biggest risk factors for heart disease is cholesterol. To check the cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the body, a fasting cholesterol test is done by individuals who are suspected to be most vulnerable to heart disease. Fasting cholesterol test, better known as lipid profile, is an important diagnostic procedure that doctors use to determine the cholesterol levels in the body.

A fasting cholesterol test is very important especially when it comes to identifying high cholesterol and preventing the development of heart diseases. If you suspect that you have high cholesterol, then go and take the test. The actual test only  takes a few minutes. However, it takes preparation in the form of fasting for a period of time to obtain the most accurate results.

In taking an accurate fasting cholesterol test reading, you need to fast for a period of eight to twelve hours. Within this time, you’re not allowed to eat any solid food. Water is fine, but not coffee, tea or soda because they may skew the test results. For those who cannot refrain from eating during the time  period, it is recommended that the test be scheduled first thing in the morning, this way there’s less interruption to a normal schedule.

In addition, your doctor will make allowances for prescription medication that still need to be taken, even while doing the fasting cholesterol test. Some medication affect cholesterol levels and allowances should be made regarding this.

Here are the steps that are to be observed when doing the fasting cholesterol test:

1. Check with your doctor and the lab where the test is to be done. As what time frame they need you to fast. Some will say eight hours is enough, while others prefer a complete fast for twelve hours.

2. Make sure you get a good schedule for your fasting cholesterol test. If you cannot miss work, or need to be somewhere during the day, schedule it for first thing in the morning to minimize disruption to your schedule. A lot of labs have their first hour blocked off for tests that require fasting. Plus, if you schedule for an early morning test, then the fasting part will not be hard since you will be sleeping for the most part of the eight or twelve- hour requirement.

3. Make sure that you give your doctor an accurate reading. A lot of people, when they know that they’re going to take the fasting cholesterol test, alter their eating habits by refraining from eating foods they normally do to give their doctor impressive and good results. Eating healthier is well and good, but for the test to be accurate and be a good tool for assessment, any changes in eating habits must be long term, and not just for a day or two.

4. Take the test and let your doctor know that you’ve taken it. This way, if he has any other instructions as to what to do next, they are given at the appropriate time.

A fasting cholesterol test is a great tool for doctors to assess how healthy a person is.

Heart disease due to cholesterol is a silent killer. Most of the time, people find out too late, and only surgery can correct the blockage.

Be aggressive about your health and get tested!