This really depends on the type of cholesterol test that is being performed. A lipid panel, often referred to as a cholesterol test, is an important tool in determining your cholesterol levels and your risk of heart disease. When a cholesterol test is performed in your healthcare provider’s office, it is usually performed in highly structured conditions. For instance, you usually make an appointment to get your cholesterol checked and are asked to fast for at least eight hours before being tested. Generally, a cholesterol test performed in your healthcare provider’s office will provide you with the following information:
- Total cholesterol
- HDL cholesterol
- LDL cholesterol
- triglycerides
- cholesterol ratio
When you get your cholesterol checked at a health fair, however, the type of test they might use can vary. For instance, some health fairs might chose to perform a test examining your total cholesterol, HDL, and LDL, while others might chose to perform just a total cholesterol reading. A high total cholesterol reading may give you an insight to a potential problem, but it doesn’t give you an entire picture of your cholesterol profile. Additionally, eating a snack or meal at the health fair before your cholesterol screening could also cause your cholesterol levels to be high.
There are a few helpful tips you can follow to make sure that you obtain an accurate cholesterol reading when you go to a health fair.
Any high total cholesterol value obtained from a health fair needs to be followed up with your healthcare provider.
Sources:
Third Report of the National Cholesterol Education Program
(NCEP) Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of
High Blood Cholesterol in Adults (PDF), July 2004, The National Institutes of Heath: The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.
