Are you suppose to fast for a cholesterol blood test?!
Question: Are you suppose to fast for a cholesterol blood test!?
I had one done and the doctor said nothing about fasting!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
Answers:
There are four components in the typical "cholesterol blood test" (which is more correctly called lipid profile):
- total cholesterol
- high-density lipoprotein (HDL): "good cholesterol"
- low-density lipoprotein (LDL): "bad cholesterol"
- triglycerides: actually NOT cholesterol (that's why the test should be called lipid profile)
Triglycerides can go up by a lot after food!.
So yes, typically we ask our patients to fast 8-12 hours before having the blood drawn!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
- total cholesterol
- high-density lipoprotein (HDL): "good cholesterol"
- low-density lipoprotein (LDL): "bad cholesterol"
- triglycerides: actually NOT cholesterol (that's why the test should be called lipid profile)
Triglycerides can go up by a lot after food!.
So yes, typically we ask our patients to fast 8-12 hours before having the blood drawn!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
If you are checking only total cholesterol, fasting is not essential!.
But if you are checking lipid profile, fasting will be ideal as triglycerides can go up after a meal!. But there is a role for knowing the increase in triglyceride after meals!. It shows the way in which body can deal with a load effectively!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
But if you are checking lipid profile, fasting will be ideal as triglycerides can go up after a meal!. But there is a role for knowing the increase in triglyceride after meals!. It shows the way in which body can deal with a load effectively!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
I have always been told to fast at least 12 hours beforehand!.Www@Answer-Health@Com