Preparing for an appointment

If you're an adult who hasn't had regular cholesterol level checks, make an appointment with your doctor. Here's some information to help you get ready for your appointment.

What you can do

When you make the appointment, ask if there's anything you need to do in advance. For a cholesterol test, you'll likely have to avoid eating or drinking anything other than water for nine to 12 hours before the blood sample is taken.

Make a list of:

• Your symptoms, if any
• Key personal information, including a family history of high cholesterol, coronary artery disease, strokes, high blood pressure or diabetes
• All medications, vitamins or supplements you take, including doses
• Questions to ask your doctor

For high cholesterol, some basic questions to ask your doctor include:

• What tests do I need?
• What's the best treatment?
• How often do I need a cholesterol test?
• Are there brochures or other printed material that I can have? What websites do you recommend?

Don't hesitate to ask other questions.

What to expect from your doctor

Your doctor is likely to ask you a number of questions, such as:

• What's your diet like?
• How much exercise do you get?
• How much alcohol do you drink?
• Do you smoke? Are you or were you around other smokers?
• When was your last cholesterol test? What were the results?