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T or F: Blood cholesterol, triglyceride and glucose levels are the most common test that require fasting?

User Jsparks
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Final answer:

True, tests measuring blood cholesterol, triglycerides, and glucose levels are common tests that require fasting to ensure accurate results, especially for diagnosing and managing cardiovascular health and diabetes.

Step-by-step explanation:

True: Blood cholesterol, triglyceride and glucose levels are indeed among the most common tests that require fasting before the blood sample is taken. During a routine checkup, a lipid profile is typically requested by doctors to assess cardiovascular health. A normal triglyceride level is considered to be 150 mg/dL or lower; levels above this threshold can increase the risk of heart disease and stroke.

Fasting is essential because it ensures that the nutrition from any recently consumed food does not affect the test outcome. The lipid profile, which usually measures cholesterol and triglycerides, is used to identify the risk of atherosclerosis. Similarly, fasting blood glucose levels are critical in diagnosing and managing diabetes mellitus. A fasting blood glucose level less than 90 mg/dL but higher than 60-70 mg/dL may prompt a physician to conduct a Glucose Tolerance Test (GTT) to confirm the diagnosis.

While blood tests for thyroid hormones are also crucial for diagnosing thyroid conditions, they are typically not included in the common tests requiring fasting. Therefore, the initial statement about fasting for blood cholesterol, triglyceride, and glucose level tests holds true.

User Alphazwest
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