Fasting for Cholesterol Test

It is necessary to fast before the blood cholesterol test. If you are scheduled for the cholesterol test, your physician recommends you to go for fasting. The doctor and the laboratory technician collects the blood for determining the cholesterol levels.

How to Fast Before the Cholesterol Test:

• Consult the health care provider to know how long you have to fast. In some cases, they may ask you to fast for 6 — 8 hours and sometimes overnight. Sometimes, you have to fast for 12 hours.
• Plan the cholesterol test in the early hours of the day if you are asked to fast for 12 hours. You may stop eating at 6 or 7 pm and then wake up the next morning and can go to the test.
• Be cautious about the diet for a week before the blood cholesterol test, thinking that you have a notice that you are getting the test. Abstain from eggs, red meat and other high cholesterol and high fat foods.
• Do not make much modifications in your diet if you are getting the regular cholesterol test.
• Try to drink more water even while you are fasting. Most physicians allow patients to drink plenty of water.
• Ask the physician or lab technician whether you can have coffee while you are on fast. Sometimes, you may have coffee.
• Be honest when you scheduled for the cholesterol fast. When you are asked to fast for 12 hours and you have did it for only 8 hours, you let the physician know about it.

Benefits of Fasting for Cholesterol Test:
If the patient does not fast and the cholesterol levels are high, the health care provider may ask you to take test again. Even though the HDL and overall cholesterol reading are accurate, physician may want to know LDL levels. Hence, he may ask you to take precautions for lowering the cholesterol levels.