Featuring Robert Segal, MDReviewed by Mera Goodman, MD, FAAP | May 1, 2024

You might think you only need a cholesterol test (also known as a lipid profile or lipid panel) if you’re having symptoms of high cholesterol. High cholesterol doesn’t generally cause symptoms, though. That’s why everyone after age 9 benefits from regular cholesterol screening, or even younger if you have risk factors.

What is a cholesterol test?

A cholesterol test is “a blood test that measures different types of cholesterol in the blood,” says Robert Segal, MD, Cardiologist at Manhattan Cardiology in New York City.

A lipid panel measures the following:

LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol, the “bad” kind
HDL (high-density lipoprotein) cholesterol, the “good” kind
Total cholesterol, a combination of the different types
Triglycerides, another type of fat in the bloodstream

When should you start cholesterol tests?

You should get your first cholesterol screening in adolescence between the ages of 9 and 11. You should then repeat testing between 17 and 21, and then continue repeating every five years.

“If you have risk factors for high cholesterol [or] a family history of heart disease, you may want to get tested more often and earlier,” says Segal.

How often should young adults get a lipid panel?

Young adults above age 21 should get a cholesterol test every five years, unless they have heart disease risk factors or abnormal results. Then, they may need more frequent testing.

How often should older adults get a cholesterol test?

Men should start getting a cholesterol test every one or two years starting at age 45. Women should start getting a cholesterol test every one or two years starting at age 55.

At age 65, everyone should start getting screened once a year.

Again, if you have risk factors for heart disease or abnormal results, you may need more frequent cholesterol tests.

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What are heart disease risk factors?

Some coronary artery disease risk factors include:

High cholesterol
High blood pressure
Diabetes
Smoking
Unhealthy diet
Inactivity

Having one or more of these risk factors may suggest that you should get a cholesterol test more often.

“These guidelines are not meant to be one size fits all,” says Segal. “It’s really dependent upon your own personal risk factors.”

References

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