What Can Cause A False High Cholesterol Reading?

On Aug 23, 2022

6 can raise lipid levels, for example.

Things to do to reduce cholesterol before the blood test

You can still consume meat. As long as you pair your meals with fresh fruits, whole grains, and veggies.
Plants rich in fibre are excellent choices, particularly soluble fibre.
Recommendations: berries, barley, beans (black, pinto, etc.), oats, yams.

What can cause a sudden increase in cholesterol? have high blood pressure or diabetes. have another medical condition, such as kidney disease, an underactive thyroid, or an inflamed pancreas (pancreatitis) – these conditions can cause increased levels of cholesterol or triglycerides.

Research shows that moderate alcohol consumption can raise your “good” cholesterol levels by increasing the speeds at which proteins are transported through the body. Drinking more than what is considered moderate, however, has an opposite effect, because it can raise both cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

What Causes False High Triglyceride Readings?

Readings. All people over the age of 20 should have their blood tested for cholesterol and triglyceride levels at least once every five years.
Failure to Fast. To obtain the most accurate results, you should provide a fasting blood sample.
Medications.
Other Factors.

What is the fat that is produced in the liver?

1. Food and Cholesterol Levels. Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance produced in the liver, according to the American Heart Association. Though you may think of cholesterol as “bad,” the body actually needs cholesterol to function properly.

Instead, a diet high in fats (particularly saturated fats) and carbohydrates has a much greater effect on blood cholesterol, according to the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health. But you should note that many cholesterol-rich foods are also high in saturated fats.

Certain medications, such as estrogen-replacement therapy (used by menopausal women to manage their symptoms), can cause higher cholesterol levels, according to the Cleveland Clinic. But estrogen therapy causes higher levels of HDL (“good” cholesterol), not LDL. Your doctor will be able to see from the tests whether elevated cholesterol is caused …

Video of the Day. Certain medications, critical illness and possibly eating too soon before a cholesterol blood test can affect cholesterol readings, Robert Eckel, MD, professor of medicine, emeritus, at the University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, former president of the American Heart Association and president …

Dr. Eckel adds that steroid medications can “modify cholesterol levels in a major way .”. Be sure to discuss all your medications with your doctor before your test. 3. Illnesses. Additionally, critical illnesses like kidney disease can also affect blood cholesterol, according to the National Kidney Foundation.

In short: Contrary to previous thought, dietary cholesterol isn’t a significant risk factor for high cholesterol and eating before a test is not likely to cause a false reading. However, Harvard Health Publishing notes that eating can lead to an increase in triglyceride levels, which are also often checked in a lipid panel.

You don’t have to see your doctor to check your cholesterol; you can also check your cholesterol at home. These home cholesterol test kits can usually be purchased at your local pharmacy. But not all home test kits are the same, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Why is my cholesterol test false?

Dietary food rich in protein raises the cholesterol level in the blood. As a result cholesterol test gets affected by food eaten the day before. Presence of alcohol in the body , at the time of blood collection, can lead to a test result showing falsely elevated triglycerides. Human error is one of the many causes of false high cholesterol tests.

Causes of False High Cholesterol Tests 1 If there has been a cardiac event in recent past like stroke or heart attack, that may lower levels of lipid temporarily. 2 In case one has undergone surgeries and infections, it is likely to show a decline in the cholesterol levels for a brief period. 3 If someone is consuming medicines containing corticosteroids and estrogens that may heighten the level of lipids in the blood. 4 Pregnancy is a condition that has a very high probability of raising the level of cholesterol in the blood. 5 As per the standing instructions, before the blood collection for the test, a patient required to fast with water only for 9-12 hours. If the patient is unable to follow the advice, food in the body can raise the cholesterol levels of the body. 6 Dietary food rich in protein raises the cholesterol level in the blood. As a result cholesterol test gets affected by food eaten the day before. 7 Presence of alcohol in the body, at the time of blood collection, can lead to a test result showing falsely elevated triglycerides. 8 Human error is one of the many causes of false high cholesterol tests. Errors can take place at different levels of human intervention in the test process, right from identification of the patient till the reporting of the results.

As per the standing instructions, before the blood collection for the test, a patient required to fast with water only for 9-12 hours. If the patient is unable to follow the advice, food in the body can raise the cholesterol levels …

In case the patient or bystanders feels that the cholesterol level test result is inaccurate, they should ask for a repeat test. Since these results are crucial for assessing the risks of fatal health conditions like heart attack and stroke, one must never hesitate to go ahead with a repeat test for an accurate result.

In the case of pregnant women, a cholesterol test result during the pregnancy cannot be considered reliable.

In case one has undergone surgeries and infections, it is likely to show a decline in the cholesterol levels for a brief period. If someone is consuming medicines containing corticosteroids and estrogens that may heighten the level of lipids in the blood. Pregnancy is a condition that has a very high probability of raising the level …

Also, they must ensure that all possible precautions have taken so that the causes of false high cholesterol tests cannot affect the test result. A word of caution, do consult your doctor before drawing any conclusion regarding a lab test result. Dr. Ahmed Zayed.

What medications can cause false highs?

Medications classified as beta blockers, prescribed for high blood pressure, cause false high readings. MedlinePlus lists cholestyramine, colestipol, medications containing the hormone estrogen, protease inhibitors, retinoids, certain anti-psychotics and birth control pills as medications that can cause false high triglyceride readings. To avoid false high readings, inform your doctor of all medications you currently take. Your doctor may suggest you temporarily stop taking the medication prior to the test, but only stop medications under your doctor’s supervision.

To obtain the most accurate results, you should provide a fasting blood sample. To fast, refrain from eating or drinking anything other than water for eight to 12 hours prior to providing the sample. Much of the dietary fat in food exists in triglyceride form. In addition, your body converts any unused calories into triglycerides. For these reasons, the triglyceride levels in your blood increase following a meal. For screening purposes, doctors may obtain a nonfasting blood sample. If this sample provides triglyceride readings of less than 150 milligrams per deciliter, no further testing is required. Readings over 150 milligrams per deciliter may be false high readings and require another test using a fasting blood sample.

Healthy adults should maintain a triglyceride level of less than 150 milligrams per deciliter, and the American Heart Association has set the optimum level at less than 100 milligrams per deciliter. Doctors consider readings that fall between 150 and 199 milligrams per deciliter as borderline high, and readings over 200 milligrams per deciliter as …

The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute created the National Cholesterol Education Program in November 1985 to inform the American public about the dangers of high blood cholesterol and how to lower cholesterol through lifestyle changes. Like high cholesterol, high triglyceride levels also increase your risk for atherosclerosis, stroke, heart attack, heart disease and diabetes. Your doctor can perform a lipid panel test on a blood sample to monitor your cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Many factors, including foods and medications, affect your blood and can cause false high triglyceride readings.

If your doctor determines your high triglyceride readings are accurate, you can make changes to your lifestyle to reduce your levels. Lose 5 to 10 percent of your body weight to reduce your triglyceride levels by up to 20 percent, according to the American Heart Association. Change how you eat by cutting your consumption of carbohydrates to only 50 to 60 percent of your daily calories, and make sure added sugar accounts for less than 10 percent of your calories. Participate in moderate-intensity physical activity for 150 minutes a week to cut your triglycerides by 20 to 30 percent.

Your doctor can perform a lipid panel test on a blood sample to monitor your cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Many factors, including foods and medications, affect your blood and can cause false high triglyceride readings.

Taking certain over-the-counter and prescription medications can affect your triglyceride levels and cause false high readings. Medications classified as beta blockers, prescribed for high blood pressure, cause false high readings. MedlinePlus lists cholestyramine, colestipol, medications containing the hormone estrogen, protease inhibitors, retinoids, certain anti-psychotics and birth control pills as medications that can cause false high triglyceride readings. To avoid false high readings, inform your doctor of all medications you currently take. Your doctor may suggest you temporarily stop taking the medication prior to the test, but only stop medications under your doctor’s supervision.