Gave blood two weeks ago and a free cholesterol screening came with it.
Got the results today and my cholesterol was 170.
At my annual physical last August, it was 210.
I’m hoping this is correct, but I really haven’t changed too much (other than taking an Omega 3 supplemant - but I only started that 2 months ago).
Any thoughts?
Yup, it can; I’ve heard about it… maybe not completely from Omega 3’s.
Find out your LDL, HDL, and TC ratios… and check your triglycerides also. This is better than simple TC (total cholesterol) alone.
Now check your diet, stress, and exercise… Really, did nothing (but Omega 3’s) change in 6 months? Really?
Lauren
I know the ratios are important but the 170 number is all you get from the agency that ran the blood drive
LAST YEAR, my cholestrol / hdl ratio was 3.1, my triglycerides were 60 , and ldl was 130.
Again, haven’t really changed much. In fact, the last two months have been the most stressful of my life.
I guess I’ll just keep on doing what I’ve been doing.
I’d get a blood sample redrawn by the same lab you had it done from the first time.
Not sure how the blood drive people measure it, but if the method is different, your results may vary from the way they were analyzed.
Yes - it can drop that much or more - related to increased aerobic exercise (can decrease total cholesterol and increase HDL cholesteral, improving the HDL/LDL ratio) - better diet (lo-fat, high fiber, lo-GI, etc) and appropriate supplements (omega-3’s) - tho most OTC omega 3’s are at a pretty low attainable dose.
Just as likely is artifact related to (A) how fully fasted you were at time of blood draws; (b) composition of meal(s) prior to the blood draws; (c) use of medications; and (d) lab error.
I agree with getting a repeat done by the original one. Some of the tests used - especially for screening - are pretty imprecise.