355. When and How Often to Have a Cholesterol Test (and Other Routine Tests)


Is it time for a mammogram or blood pressure reading? The table below gives general guidelines for when important medical tests should be done. Follow your doctor’s guidelines for tests and exams.



Here is what the tests will check.

  1. •Blood Pressure Test. This checks two kinds of pressure within the blood vessels. The first or top number (systolic blood pressure) measures the force when your heart beats. The second or bottom number (diastolic blood pressure) measures the force between heartbeats when the heart is being refilled. High blood pressure is a symptomless disease that can lead to a heart attack and/or a stroke.

  2. •Vision. This checks for marked changes or degeneration of eye function.

  3. •Chlamydia Screening. This checks for chlamydia bacteria, which is sexually transmitted.

  4. •Cholesterol Blood Test. This checks cholesterol levels in the blood. High LDL-cholesterol levels are linked to heart disease.

  5. •Pap Test. This checks for the early signs of cervical cancer, HPV infection, and other problems, such as swelling from irritation or infection.

  6. •Mammogram. This is an X-ray to detect breast tumors or problems.

  7. •Professional Breast Exam. A health care provider examines the breasts for signs of problems.

  8. •Osteoporosis Screening. This checks bone density measurements to predict the risk for fractures and to decide on treatment to reduce the risk for fractures.

  9. •Prostate Cancer Screening. Two screening tools are a digital rectal exam and a PSA blood test. Men should talk to their doctors about the benefits and risks of these tests.

  10. •Colorectal Cancer Screening. This checks for early signs of colon and rectal problems, including cancer.

  11. •Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Screening. This test uses sound waves to get an image of the section of the aorta (the main artery in the body) and other structures in the upper abdomen to check for problems.

Chapter 16

  1. All About Medical Care

Note: If you are at an increased risk for an illness, tests may need to be done sooner or more often. Extra tests (e.g., diabetes screening) may also need to be done. Follow your doctor’s advice. Check with your employer or health insurance plan to see if and when tests are covered.

  1. 1.All sexually active females aged 25 or younger and females older than age 25 with certain risk factors or who do not use condoms consistently and correctly, should have routine chlamydia screenings as often as advised by their doctor.

  2. 2.Pap tests should begin within 3 years of the start of sexual activity or age 21, whichever comes first.

  3. 3.Women who are at higher risk for breast cancer should seek expert medical advice about mammograms before age 40 and during their 40s.

  4. 4.African American men and men with a family history of prostate problems should discuss screening for prostate cancer with their doctors starting at age 45.

  5. 5.Follow your doctor’s advice. Screening test options include stool blood tests, sigmoidoscopy, double contrast barium enema, and colonoscopy. How often testing is needed depends on the test(s) given.



Know Your Cholesterol Levels

Average doesn’t necessarily mean healthy, especially when you’re talking about cholesterol, a fat-related substance found in the blood. Too much cholesterol can build up and form artery-clogging plaques, slowing blood to a trickle and ending in a heart attack that could be fatal.


According to a panel of experts convened by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, total blood cholesterol should be 200 milligrams per deciliter or lower. Yet the average cholesterol level for men in the United States is about 211, and for women, it’s 215. So if your doctor tells you your cholesterol is “normal” or “average,” ask for the exact numbers, and if it’s elevated, take steps to reduce it.


Better yet, ask for a blood test that measures not only your total cholesterol but also your triglycerides (another kind of blood fat), HDL (high-density lipoprotein) cholesterol, a protective kind of fat, and LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol. Ideally, your triglyceride level should be 150 mg/dL or lower.


The more HDL, the better, and the less LDL, the better. An HDL below 40 mg/dL for men and less than 50 mg/dL for women is cause for concern; so is an LDL over 100 mg/dL. {Note: Ask your doctor what your LDL-cholesterol goal is. This is based on your risk factors for heart disease and how many you have.}


Most people can improve their cholesterol and triglyceride levels by eating less dietary fat, not smoking, getting more exercise, not being overweight, consuming a limited amount of alcohol and sweets, and eating certain kinds of food high in fiber. (For more details on a heart-healthy diet, see chapter 4, Eating for Better Health.)