Table of contents:
- Why do you have to fast before checking cholesterol?
- Some say you don't need to fast first
- What is normal cholesterol level?
For those of you who have high cholesterol, you must check your cholesterol levels regularly. If not controlled, high cholesterol can increase the risk of heart attack and stroke. You will usually be asked to fast for at least 10 hours before checking your cholesterol. What's the reason, huh?
Why do you have to fast before checking cholesterol?
Health experts agree that fasting before a cholesterol check gives the most accurate results. The reason is, the food and drinks you consume can affect the levels of bad LDL cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood.
When you eat, every type of food will be digested and distributed to the body's organs and blood. Blood containing these nutrients will be tested for cholesterol levels. So, if you do not limit your food intake before the test, it is possible that the cholesterol test results will be inaccurate.
Some say you don't need to fast first
In fact, a recent study from the University of Copenhagen The Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences revealed that you don't actually need to fast before checking cholesterol levels. Experts found that cholesterol and triglyceride levels in both fasting and non-fasting people previously showed relatively the same test results.
According to Borge Nordestgaard, a professor from the University of Copenhagen, not having to fast before checking cholesterol can actually increase patient adherence to medication and prevent complications due to high cholesterol. This is certainly useful for reducing the risk of heart attack and stroke.
In essence, whether or not it is necessary to fast before a cholesterol check depends on the condition of your own body. If your doctor thinks that your cholesterol test results will be prone to being inaccurate due to several reasons, for example due to food intake or medication, your doctor may advise you to fast for 9 to 12 hours beforehand and drink only water
Usually, a cholesterol test is done in the morning to facilitate your fasting schedule before the test.
What is normal cholesterol level?
The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends those of you aged 20 years and over to check your cholesterol regularly every four to six years.
In one time the cholesterol test consists of various types of cholesterol that are measured. To find out what cholesterol levels are considered normal, risky, and high, let's look at the following limits.
1. Total cholesterol is the total amount of cholesterol found in the blood.
- Normal: 200 mg / dL and below
- Borderline: 200 to 239 mg / dL
- High: 240 mg / dL and above
2. LDL is a type of cholesterol that can clog blood vessels and increase the risk of heart disease.
- Normal: 100 mg / dL and below
- Borderline: 130 to 159 mg / dL
- High: 160 mg / dL and above
3. HDL, also called good cholesterol, which helps protect against the risk of heart disease. This type of cholesterol can remove excess bad cholesterol (LDL) in the blood thereby helping prevent buildup. The higher the HDL level, the better your health will be.
- Ideal: 60 mg / dL and above
- Normal: 40 mg / dL and above for men and 50 mg / dL and above for women
- Low: 39 mg / dL and below
4. Triglycerides, high triglyceride levels can increase the risk of heart disease, especially when coupled with high LDL levels.
- Normal: 149 mg / dL and below
- Borderline: 150 to 199 mg / dL
- High: 200 mg / dL and above
Having normal cholesterol levels is an important key to maintaining a healthy heart and blood vessels. Therefore, immediately check your cholesterol and start fasting so that the results are more accurate. Make sure to always consult a doctor before doing a cholesterol test, yes!
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