Many undesirable health conditions present early warning signs. Take weight gain, for example. You notice immediately that you’ve gained weight because your clothes fit poorly — or not at all. High cholesterol, however, is a more subtle issue.
Even if your cholesterol levels soar, you likely won’t detect it since high cholesterol typically isn’t visible or palpable. (Here are some myths you should stop believing about cholesterol.) This is why high cholesterol can lead to numerous complications: many people remain unaware of their risk for heart disease until they suffer a heart attack or stroke.
Hence, it’s crucial to maintain a cholesterol-friendly diet and exercise regimen. Additionally, ensure you have your total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL or “good”) cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL or “bad”) cholesterol, and triglycerides checked.
A cholesterol test, also known as a lipid or cholesterol panel, is a brief procedure and, for most individuals, not very uncomfortable (unless you have a fear of needles). After drawing your blood, a technician sends it to a lab. Once your results are available, you might access them through your patient portal or receive a copy from your doctor during a visit. Simple and direct — and potentially transformative if your cholesterol isn’t at the desired level.
This prompts a bigger question: How often should you undergo a cholesterol test? The short answer is that frequency depends on various factors, beginning with your age.
Different life stages, different testing frequencies
For instance, if you’re a healthy adult aged 20 to 40, the American Heart Association recommends checking your cholesterol levels every four to six years (as per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). As you transition into your late 40s and early-to-mid 50s, expect more frequent cholesterol screenings compared to your younger years.
Family physician Dr. Chase Noel (via the American Medical Association) explains, “Once you’re 40, we usually — from a screening standpoint — should do it [cholesterol testing] every three to five years.” He further notes that patients with elevated risk factors for cardiovascular disease may need to be tested more regularly.
Even if you’re a younger adult in your 20s or 30s, you might require more frequent testing than your peers, especially if previous cholesterol panels showed LDL cholesterol above 100 mg/dL or HDL cholesterol below 60 mg/dL, both of which are less than ideal and might warrant intervention.
Realistic expectations for lipid panel improvements
If you find out that you have high cholesterol, your doctor will devise a customized treatment plan that will likely include an appropriate schedule for monitoring your cholesterol levels. If diagnosed with high cholesterol and prescribed cholesterol-lowering medications like statins (after understanding the potential side effects of statins), your doctor will monitor your lipid panel frequently to assess if the medications are effective.
The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute indicates that you may initially be screened approximately every three months after starting statins. Once your doctor is confident that the medications are effective, you may only need a lipid panel once a year.
Be aware that you shouldn’t expect immediate changes in your cholesterol. While you might take swift action, any cholesterol treatment requires time to show results. Even medications generally need around four weeks to make a noticeable difference.
If you opt to avoid pharmaceuticals and aim to lower borderline-high cholesterol by choosing heart-healthy foods and exercising, you may need to wait up to three months before your efforts are reflected in your cholesterol tests.
