Conventional medicine would have you believe that everyone should have their cholesterol levels checked yearly. Their mantra is that high cholesterol (greater than 200 mg/dL) automatically increases your risk for heart disease.

What the powers-that-be fail to mention is that just half of all fatal heart attacks occur in people with high cholesterol levels. That means that the other half of fatal heart attacks occurred in those without high cholesterol levels.

Conventional doctors also generally believe that anyone with elevated cholesterol should be placed on a statin drug. That is just plain wrong.

Statin drugs have been around for many years. They have yet to be shown to decrease the incidence of death. In fact, the best the statins offer is a slight — approximately 1 percent — reduction in nonfatal heart attacks.

There is no reduction in overall death rate with the use of statins.

In fact, as you age it is better to maintain higher cholesterol levels because the body needs adequate amounts for optimal brain and immune system function.

A recent study on elderly hospitalized patients found that increased levels of serum and total cholesterol were associated with a reduced mortality risk.

Even in those with genetic predispositions to very high cholesterol levels (greater than 300 mg/dL), lowering cholesterol with statin use has not been shown to increase longevity.

Take me, for instance. In my case, the chances of a routine blood test detecting elevated cholesterol or blood sugar is remote. But if the screening test reveals my blood sugar is rising or my cholesterol is rising or falling, it could indicate a future problem.

All in all, I would consider checking my fasting glucose level and forgo cholesterol testing. Blood sugar testing can be done for about $10.