You might have had an inconvenient experience of fasting before going for a blood test or a cholesterol test. But have you ever wondered what will happen if you do not fast and give your blood for the test?! Lets see the mechanism and know why fasting is a must before the cholesterol test.
What is Cholesterol?
Cholesterol is a fatty substance that is naturally produced by the body. It is made of fat (lipid) and steroid. Produced by the liver, it is a building block for cell membranes. But when excess, it builds up in the arteries and can lead to serious health problems. It is cholesterol which causes common heart diseases.
Cholesterol is tested or measured by blood test. There are 4 types of cholesterol or lipoproteins: Low Density Lipoproteins (LDL), High Density Lipoprotein (HDL), Very Low Density Lipoprotein (VLDL) and Intermediate density (IDL).
The Mechanism
Low density lipoproteins are ‘bad cholesterol.’ The levels of the lipids and blood sugar levels keep changing every hour. Taking food directly effects the levels of the cholesterol in the blood. By fasting the blood achieves a constant baseline sugar and lipid level.
These constant levels are seen by fasting atleast for 12 hours before the test. Those who do not fast or fast for less than the required period may have inaccurate results. According to a study conducted by Harvard health publications, a non-fasting blood test to measure cholesterol test can have 20 to 30% increased levels of triglyceride. Triglyceride is a type of fat that forms the lipids in the bloodstream.
Fasting is a Must
Doctors use only fasting cholesterol levels to determine the treatment for disorders such as heart disease. If the patient is undergoing treatment for high cholesterol then doctor evaluates the treatment by fasting test and then changes corresponding medications. Thus it is a must that you fast while giving your blood for the cholesterol test.
There are different types of blood tests and several parameters are observed in the tests. Talk to your doctor to know the details of tests before taking any of them.
