Maintaining a healthy level of both good cholesterol and bad cholesterol is essential for overall health. However, complications can arise if cholesterol levels get too high. If cholesterol builds up too much in your blood, this waxy substance will eventually create plaque which results in clogged arteries that affect heart health.
So, if you want to know how to maintain cholesterol at healthy levels, the answer lies in getting regular cholesterol blood tests at your local pharmacy or Intrigue Health pharmacy in South London. Unless you get routine cholesterol tests, you won’t know that your cholesterol is high until serious health conditions start to surface and affect your health.
Some cholesterol tests require you to fast for 8 to 12 hours before you take the test to ensure accurate results. Your healthcare advisor will advise whether you need to fast before getting your blood cholesterol test.
To learn why fasting is necessary before a cholesterol test, check out the article below.
Is Fasting Necessary Before A Cholesterol Test?
In general, consuming any food or beverages before taking a cholesterol blood test can alter your cholesterol levels and give inaccurate test results. When you eat or drink before the test, excess cholesterol will most likely enter your bloodstream and skew the cholesterol numbers.
If you consume food or drinks before the test, you run the risk of receiving an incomplete picture of your overall cholesterol numbers, which include triglycerides, LDL cholesterol, and HDL cholesterol. If you don’t fast before the test, only your HDL cholesterol and total cholesterol results can be used.
If you have to fast and the thought of not eating or drinking for 12 hours stresses you out, then schedule your cholesterol test first thing in the morning. Since you’ve already spent those hours sleeping (fasting), having an early appointment around 9:00-10:00am is much more manageable. All you have to do is refrain from drinking or eating after 9 pm the night before.
Can I Eat After My Cholesterol Blood Test?
As soon as you’ve completed your cholesterol blood test, you can eat or drink as usual.
Intrigue Health provides a wide range of blood testing services, including private cholesterol tests. Explore our website to learn more about our services or book a cholesterol test when you click the link.
