Do you really have to fast for 12 hours before a cholesterol blood test
- how often should you have cholesterol checked
- how often should you have cholesterol test
- how often do you need cholesterol checked
- how often do you get cholesterol checked
What to eat the night before a cholesterol test.
How often should i check my cholesterol if it is high
Getting tested - High cholesterol
Check if you have high cholesterol
High cholesterol does not usually cause symptoms. You can only find out if you have it from a blood test.
Your GP might suggest having a test to check if your cholesterol level is high.
This may be because of your age, weight or a condition you have (like high blood pressure or diabetes).
Non-urgent advice: Ask your GP surgery for a cholesterol test if:
- you have not had a test before and you're over 40, overweight, or high cholesterol or heart problems run in your family
You're more likely to have high cholesterol.
You can also get a cholesterol test at a pharmacy, but you might have to pay for it.
Having a cholesterol test
There are 2 ways of having a cholesterol test.
Taking blood from your arm
Some blood will usually be taken from your arm with a needle.
This is sent to a lab to check your cholesterol level.
You should get the result in a few days.
You might be asked not to eat anything (to "fast") for up to 12 hours before the test. But most people do not need to fast.