Most adults have had their cholesterol tested in the last five years. That is great news! It is also important since often you don't experience any symptoms when you have high cholesterol levels. Since high cholesterol increases your risk of heart disease, it is important that you know your cholesterol numbers. High cholesterol is also a risk factor for Type 2 Diabetes.
What Is Cholesterol?
Cholesterol is normally found in your body to help make hormones and to build and maintain nerve cells. Most of the cholesterol in your blood comes from your liver from the fats, carbohydrates and proteins you eat such as meat, eggs and dairy products.
What Is a Cholesterol Test?
A small amount of blood is taken from your arm or from your finger and sent to a lab for testing. A blood test is done to measure a type of fatty substance or lipid, called cholesterol, in you blood. A cholesterol test measures the total of the two kinds of lipids in your blood that carry cholesterol: high density lipoprotein (HDL) and low density lipoprotein (LDL).
The test helps evaluate your risk for heart disease and atherosclerosis, which is a hardening, narrowing and blockage of your arteries.
How To Prepare For A Cholesterol Test
Your physician will give you instructions about preparing for the test that are specific for you and any medical problems you may have. The instructions usually include the following:
- You should avoid eating fatty foods the night before having the test as this will affect the test results.
- You may also be asked not to eat any food during the 9-12 hours before the test.
- You should not drink any alcohol during the 24 hours before the taking the test.
- You may need to avoid certain medications before the test because they may affect the results. It is very important that your physician knows about any medications you are taking to determine if it is safe for you to stop taking any the medications prior to the test.
When You Get Your Test Results
First, make sure you discuss the results with your physician to determine if any changes in your diet or medication are necessary.
Total blood cholesterol levels of less than 200 are good. Levels of 200-239 are considered borderline high and levels over 240 are high. Your risk of heart disease and stroke increases if you have a blood cholesterol level greater than 200. If you have a level of 240 or above, your risk is more than twice that of an individual with a level of 200.
There are two types of cholesterol that are also indicated in the test results: HDL and LDL cholesterol. It is important to know your number for both types of cholesterol.
HDL cholesterol or "good" cholesterol helps to clear blood vessels of "bad cholesterol." It carries cholesterol away from the blood vessels to your liver and your liver helps the body get rid of excess cholesterol. Higher amounts of HDL decrease the risk of heart disease. An HDL level of 60 or more is good. A level of 40 or less is not desirable.
LDL is the "bad cholesterol." High amounts of LDL cholesterol increase your risk for heart disease. An LDL level of less than 100 is very good. Your risk of heart disease increases as the LDL level increases. A level over 160 is considered high and not desirable.
Even if your overall or total cholesterol level is less than 200, you may need to make some lifestyle changes because your LDL level is high or your HDL level is too low. Changes in you diet, weight loss and exercise may be enough to lower your cholesterol level to acceptable levels. Again, these are options you can discuss with your physician.
What Can You Do?
Most of the following will help you lower your cholesterol numbers. Just remember, to check with your physician before changing your diet or exercise routine to make sure they are the right changes for you.
- Follow a diet low in saturated fats, trans fats and cholesterol.
- Include more fruits, low-fat dairy products, whole grains and vegetables in your diet.
- Increase your physical activity.
- Lose weight if you are overweight.
Your Service Benefit Plan Coverage
Benefits are available under both Standard and Basic Options for cholesterol tests as part of preventive care when you use a Preferred provider.
Under Standard Option, you pay the $20 copayment for the office visit and nothing for the cholesterol test when you use a Preferred primary care physician. You pay $30 copayment for the office visit when you use a Preferred specialist. Under Basic Option, you pay just the $25 copayment for visit to a primary care physician or the $30 copayment if the provider is a specialist.
Please see Section 5(a) of the 2010 Service Benefit Plan brochure for more information about preventive care benefits.
Resources
There are resources online that can help you learn more about cholesterol. The web site of the American Heart Association, www.americanheart.org, has educational
information about heart disease and the American Stroke Association,
www.americanstrokeassociation.org, gives you pointers to reduce your risk of stroke and make positive lifestyle changes.