786-596-1960
8900 North Kendall Drive Miami, Florida 33176
786-308-3000
5000 University Drive Coral Gables, Florida 33146
786-243-8000
975 Baptist Way Homestead, FL 33033
305-434-3000
91500 Overseas Highway Tavernier, Florida 33070
786-662-4000
6200 SW 73 Street South Miami, Florida 33143
786-467-2000
9555 SW 162 Avenue Miami, Florida 33196
786-596-5991
786-596-2000
Cholesterol is a soft, waxy substance found in all parts of your body. It helps form cell membranes and helps your body make some hormones and vitamin D. Excess cholesterol can build up in the arteries, narrowing them and slowing or blocking blood flow to the heart, brain, and other organs.
Depending on your results, your healthcare provider may tell you to have the test more often. People assigned male at birth who are ages 45 to 65 and people assigned female at birth who are ages 55 to 65 should be screened every 1 to 2 years. Your provider may also advise making changes to things you can control (modifiable risk factors) such as eating a healthy diet, losing weight, stopping smoking, and getting more exercise. The best blood test to check cholesterol is a lipoprotein profile. This is done after you fast for 9 to 12 hours. A lipoprotein is a substance in the blood that carries cholesterol and other fats to the body's cells. The most important lipoproteins are: