What is Cholesterol?

• Cholesterol is a bodily substance that is made in the liver. A lot of foods contain cholesterol especially food that comes from animals such as beef and pork. Cholesterol is an important necessity for your body to be able to operate. However, too much cholesterol can cause serious health problems. This is why it is important to periodically check your cholesterol levels. In fact the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) recommends having your cholesterol levels checked once every 5 years.
  
  

What it Does

• Cholesterol does many things for your body. Cholesterol helps produce vitamins and hormones in your body, helps produce digestive fluids, and also helps to strengthen your cell wells. However, cholesterol in excess can contribute to heart problems including heart disease and heart attacks. It's important to balance the level of cholesterol that you intake. A cholesterol test can help you do this.
  
  

Fasting

• Before you take a cholesterol test your doctor will ask you to fast for at least 12 hours before your testing time. Fasting allows more accurate numbers of your bad cholesterol (LDL cholesterol) and triglycerides. These numbers can be skewed when taken right after eating.
  
  

Sample

• When you arrive at the doctor's office they will take a small blood sample from your arm. The needle is small, and in most cases only causes slight discomfort. You may also have your blood tested by the doctor pricking your thumb and drawing your blood through a tube. The sample will be sent off to a lab where the cholesterol numbers will be recorded. Lab results can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks to be returned depending on where the lab is located and how busy the lab is.
  
  

Results

• Your results will vary dependent on your age, race, weight, and lifestyle. That is because each of these factors determine what a good number for cholesterol is. Your cholesterol is measured in mg/dL (milligrams per deciliter). Your cholesterol levels are divided into HDL (good cholesterol) and LDL (bad cholesterol). Your LDL cholesterol should not be above 200 mg/dL, and your HDL should be above 40 mg/dL. If your results vary much from these numbers you may be put on cholesterol medication, or asked to come back for further testing. Neglecting to do so could put you at serious risk for heart related diseases and issues in the future.