Many people report hearing Jimi Hendrix's lyric "excuse me while I kiss the sky" as "excuse me while I kiss this guy."

While it’s often funny to get song lyrics wrong, it's no laughing matter if your cholesterol and blood pressure readings are inaccurate.

Here are some tips to follow to make sure you get an accurate cholesterol test:

• A 2019 study in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine found it isn't necessary to fast before your blood test to determine if you're at risk for cardiovascular problems — but it can't hurt. Ask your doctor for advice.

• Eating, drinking, exercising, and medication dosages should be the same the day before the test each time you have it, so you're comparing apples to apples.

• Tell your doctor if you've had a fever or felt ill recently, and what medications you're taking. Birth control pills, hormone-replacement therapy, steroids, and some anti-hypertensives can raise cholesterol levels and affect test results.

For an accurate blood pressure reading:

• Go to the bathroom first. A full bladder can boost systolic readings by 10-plus points.

• Uncross your legs and sit up straight. Put feet flat on the floor, not dangling over the edge of an exam table. Make sure your arm is supported on a flat surface and at heart level.

• No talking.

• Make sure the cuff isn't too small or your sleeve isn't too tight when scooted up your arm.

• If your blood pressure is elevated, ask for a second reading at the end of your appointment. That minimizes white coat syndrome (blood pressure that's elevated at the doctor's office, lower at home).