Cholesterol test Health Article

Special considerations

Any acute illness can raise or lower your total cholesterol number. If you have had an acute illness in the 3 months before having this test, you should have it repeated in 2 or 3 months. Even a flare up of arthritis can affect your cholesterol level.

Other conditions associated with high cholesterol include:

• Pregnancy
• Removal of the ovaries

References

Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults. Executive Summary of The Third Report of The National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation, And Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol In Adults (Adult Treatment Panel III). JAMA. 2001 May 16;285(19):2486-97.