Your Cholesterol Is One Part Of Your Risk
Your cholesterol levels can help your doctor find out your risk for having a heart attack or stroke.
But itâs not just about your cholesterol. Your doctor uses your cholesterol levels plus other things to calculate your risk. These include:
- Your blood pressure.
- Whether or not you have diabetes.
- Your age, sex, and race.
- Whether or not you smoke.
You and your doctor can talk about whether you need to lower your risk and, if so, what treatment is best for you.
Ideal cholesterol and triglyceride numbers for adults
|
Total cholesterol |
|
|
Triglycerides |
Less than 150 mg/dL |
If your LDL cholesterol is 190 milligrams per deciliter or more, it might mean that you have a familial lipid disorder.
For children and teens, test results are slightly different than for adults. For more information, see Cholesterol in Children and Teens.
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Getting Your Cholesterol Checked
Many people have never had their cholesterol checked, so they dont know whether they are at risk.
High cholesterol usually has no signs or symptoms.
The only way to know whether you have high cholesterol is to get your cholesterol checked. Your health care team can do a simple blood test, called a lipid profile, to measure your cholesterol levels.
Easily Discover Your Personal Levels Of Total Cholesterol Hdl Calculated Ldl And Triglycerides
Your results will contain your personal levels of Total Cholesterol, HDL, Calculated LDL, and Triglycerides and whether they fall within a low, normal, or high range. We always encourage sharing the results of your test with your healthcare provider.
Everlywell can provide suggestions to jumpstart a healthier lifestyle. As always, we encourage you to share your results with a healthcare provider who can provide specific guidance on medication and lifestyle changes.
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What Does A Cholesterol Test Measure
A complete cholesterol test measures the levels of lipids, or fats, in your blood. It primarily measures your:
- High-density lipoprotein cholesterol.HDL cholesterol is referred to as good cholesterol because it helps remove LDL cholesterol from your blood.
- Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol.LDL cholesterol is referred to as bad cholesterol. Too much of it can cause cholesterol to build up on the walls of your arteries. This raises your risk of heart attack, stroke, and atherosclerosis.
- Triglycerides. When you eat, your body breaks down fats in your food into smaller molecules called triglycerides. High levels of triglycerides in your blood increase your risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Having obesity or unmanaged diabetes, drinking too much alcohol, and eating a high calorie diet can all contribute to high triglyceride levels.
- Very low-density lipoprotein . Your blood also contains another type of cholesterol linked to an
In the United States, cholesterol and triglyceride levels are measured in milligrams of cholesterol per deciliter of blood.
Diet And Lifestyle Changes
A doctor will look at your overall risk of cardiovascular disease and make recommendations to reduce high blood cholesterol as well as managing other risk factors such as high blood pressure, smoking and being overweight.
Reducing high blood cholesterol levels typically involves decreasing the total cholesterol level by decreasing LDL-cholesterol and triglycerides, while maintaining or increasing HDL-cholesterol levels.
- LDL-cholesterol levels are best decreased by eating less saturated fat
- Triglyceride levels are best reduced by eating less sugar-containing foods, limiting alcohol intake, and reducing the intake of total fat
- HDL-cholesterol levels are best increased by exercise, substituting saturated fats with polyunsaturated or monounsaturated fat , and maintaining a healthy weight.
Heart-healthy dietary changes are summarised in our Heart disease diet page.
Other lifestyle changes should include:
- Exercising regularly
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My Doctor Told Me I Had A High Cholesterol Test But Instead Of Treating Me He Told Me To Wait A Few Months And Test It Again Why
Cholesterol levels fluctuate over time. A single measurement of cholesterol may not always reflect the “usual cholesterol level. For this reason, you may have at least two different measurements several weeks to several months apart before beginning any kind of treatment.
Conditions: Heart Disease, Cardiovascular Disease, Heart Attack, StrokeScreening: High Cholesterol – Children , Teens , Young Adults , Adults , Adults In the News: More Evidence That Fasting Not Needed Before Cholesterol Tests , Assessing Personal Risk of Heart Attack and Heart Disease
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Which Home Cholesterol Tests Are Best
Heart health matters. Cholesterol plays a vital role in the body, but too much can cause blocked or narrowed arteries. Testing cholesterol levels is essential for evaluating cardiovascular health. Between doctor visits, a home cholesterol test kit measures key lipid levels, which assists in assessing the impact of medicine, exercise and diet.
Accuracy, ease of use and affordability are all critical considerations for testing cholesterol at home. For accuracy and quick results, the top choice is the Solana Health FDA-Approved Cholesterol Test Kit.
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How Can You Lower Triglyceride Levels
If you are diagnosed with high blood triglycerides, your doctor may first recommend that you adopt heart-healthy lifestyle changes. These may include:
- Choosing heart-healthy foods and limiting alcohol, added sugars, and foods high in saturated fat
- Getting regular physical activity
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What Are Normal Lipid Panel Results
The optimal level for each of the four standard tests in a lipid panel are as follows:
- Total cholesterol: Below 200 mg/dL.
- High-density lipoprotein cholesterol: Above 60 mg/dL.
- Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol: Below 100 mg/dL .
- Triglycerides: Below 150 mg/dL.
If your results are higher or lower than the target range, they may be classified as borderline-, intermediate-, or high-risk for cardiovascular issues. In general, higher-than-normal levels of total cholesterol, LDL and triglycerides and lower-than-normal levels of HDL can increase your risk of cardiovascular disease.
Its rare to have abnormally low levels of cholesterol. If you do, its usually due to a health condition thats causing malnutrition.
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What To Eat The Night Before A Cholesterol Test
A healthcare professional or the manufacturers of an at-home test should provide instructions on whether a person needs to fast or if they can eat and drink as they normally would before taking a cholesterol test.
If a person needs to fast, this usually means that they can only drink water for a certain amount of time before the test.
Where Should Cholesterol Be Checked
Its best for your primary care doctor to do the test. As noted, your cholesterol levels represent just one of many factors affecting your cardiovascular health. Your primary care physician will have a fuller understanding of your personal and family history, as well as any other risk factors that might apply.
If your cholesterol is checked at a public screening, they may measure your HDL cholesterol and total cholesterol. But if HDL cholesterol isnt measured, knowing your total cholesterol levels still gives you valuable information. Getting your blood cholesterol, blood pressure, body mass index and fasting blood sugar measured regularly should be part of your overall personal care plan.
If you obtain cholesterol screening results from a source outside of your doctors office, be sure to share those with your primary care physician. Additional data points help to establish your cardiovascular risk. This is particularly important for people who smoke, have other health conditions such as diabetes or inflammatory conditions, or have a family history of heart disease, high blood pressure or stroke.
Written by American Heart Association editorial staff and reviewed by science and medicine advisers. See our editorial policies and staff.
Last Reviewed: Nov 9, 2020
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Pts Diagnostics Cardiochek Analyzer
Price: $$
If you dont need blood sugar testing, you may prefer this less-expensive device made specifically for home use. It uses the same technology as the CardioChek Plus but only tests for cholesterol, not glucose.
This complete kit includes everything you need for testing:
- handheld, battery-operated meter
- nine test strips for HDL, total cholesterol, and triglycerides
It provides a large digital readout of your results within 45 seconds of testing. If you prefer a language other than English, you can program the meter to display your results in another language, such as Spanish, German, French, Chinese, and Russian.
Additional test strips are sold separately.
It comes with a 1-year factory warranty.
Is There Anything Else I Need To Know About My Cholesterol Levels
High cholesterol can lead to heart disease, the number one cause of death in the United States. You cant change some risk factors for high cholesterol, such as age and your genes. But there are actions you can take to lower your LDL levels and reduce your risk, including:
- Eating a healthy diet. Reducing or avoiding foods high in saturated fat and cholesterol can help reduce the cholesterol levels in your blood.
- Losing weight. Being overweight can increase your cholesterol and risk for heart disease.
- Staying active. Regular exercise may help lower your LDL cholesterol levels and raise your HDL cholesterol levels. It may also help you lose weight.
Talk to your provider before making any major change in your diet or exercise routine.
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How Are Fats And Cholesterol Connected In Cats
Fats, including cholesterol, are carried in the blood in complex compounds that also contain protein: so-called lipoproteins.
These include triglycerides, cholesterol and phospholipid linked to apopproteins, which are manufactured in cells of the liver and intestines. Apolipoproteins are synthesized in the liver or in intestinal cells.
There are four major lipoprotein classes in cats, as follows:
Chylomicrons and Very low density lipoproteins carry triglycerides in the blood
Low density lipoproteins and High density lipoproteins carry cholesterol in the blood. In cats, HDL outnumbers LDL by 5:1, while in humans, LDL is the main carrier of cholesterol.
Many humans are aware of these abbreviations from their own blood test results, but its important to remember that the significance of abnormal levels is very different in humans compared to cats.
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Best Instructional Video: Letsgetchecked Cholesterol Test
LetsGetChecked offers a finger prick cholesterol test and states that it may suit people with:
- a family history of heart disease
LetsGetChecked has an instructional video on its website that explains how a person should collect the sample. The company suggests that people do so before 10 a.m. and before they eat breakfast.
LetsGetChecked offers a one-time purchase as well as a subscription plan for those who require regular cholesterol testing.
It states that its laboratories are approved by and part of the College of American Pathologists program.
People should receive their results within 25 days. Additionally, they can contact a LetsGetChecked nurse at any time to discuss their results.
Price: A test kit costs $79.
A person may wish to consider the advantages and disadvantages of this test.
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How Is A Cholesterol Home Test Kit Used
You can purchase a cholesterol home test kit at your local pharmacy or medical supply store. They are usually priced under $20. The standard cholesterol home test kit contains a lancet for drawing blood and test strips.
To use a cholesterol home test kit, you first prick your finger with the lancet. Next, you place the blood droplet on the test strip. The cholesterol home test strip has special chemicals that change colors after a few minutes. You then match the final color against a color guide that’s included with the kit. This color will tell you how much cholesterol is in your droplet of blood.
Some new cholesterol home test kits have an electronic meter. This meter functions in a similar way as a diabetes blood glucose meter. The test strips are inserted into the electronic device and a small computer measures the amount of cholesterol automatically. The electronically metered cholesterol home test kit costs more than the paper test strip method. The electronic meter kit, however, is helpful if you want to check your cholesterol level more frequently.
What If Triglycerides Test Levels Are High
There are many causes of high triglycerides, which include inhertiable traits, having a high fat or high sugar diet, high intake of alcohol, obesity and diabetes.
Healthier lifestyle changes to consider include:
- Try to lower the saturated fat, trans fat, and cholesterol in your diet. Cutting back on carbohydrates should help too.
- Eating more oily fish such as mackerel, sardines, tuna and salmon which are high in omega-3s, a fat thats good for you. It may be hard to get enough omega-3s from food so you can also consider supplements.
- Increased exercise & weight loss. If youre carrying extra pounds, especially around your belly, losing 5% to 10% of your weight can lower triglycerides.
- Reduced alcohol consumption. Not only is alcohol high in sugar and calories, it can have a significant effect on your triglyceride levels.
If these steps are insufficient your doctor may prescribe drugs to help reduce your triglyceride levels.
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When To See A Doctor
At-home tests cannot provide the information needed to assess your cardiovascular risk or decide when treatment is needed.
And although at-home cholesterol tests may let you know that you may have high cholesterol levels, the FDA states that home-use tests are best interpreted when they are evaluated alongside your medical history, a physical exam, and other tests performed during a doctor visit.
The American Heart Association recommends that adults 20 years or older should have their cholesterol checked by their doctor every four to six years. Those with heart disease, diabetes, or a family history of high cholesterol should see their doctor more frequently.
Talk with your doctor so that they can help assess your risk and advise you on how frequently you need to see them for testing.
Type Of Cholesterol Measured
All at-home cholesterol test kits measure total cholesterol, and the more advanced options provide HDL and triglycerides readings as well. Only one of the FDA-approved cholesterol test kits also measures LDL. Pay close attention to what each test measures if youre in need of a more comprehensive analysis, and expect higher price tags on the tests that provide more measurements.
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When To Contact A Doctor
People who receive a positive cholesterol test result should consider seeking medical advice. A doctor can help a person interpret their results and suggest the most suitable treatment plan.
Doctors may recommend making lifestyle changes, such as getting more exercise, reaching or maintaining a moderate weight, and following a balanced diet.
Also, a doctor
Below are answers to common questions about testing cholesterol at home.
Best For Lower Budgets: Everlywell Cholesterol & Lipids Test
Everlywell offers a finger prick sample collection that measures:
- total cholesterol levels
After purchasing the home kit, a person can register it on the Everlywell website. There, they need to include their orders identification number. Then, once they collect their sample, they can send it to one of the Everlywell testing facilities.
The company claims that it works with laboratories with CLIA certification.
People should receive their results through the Everlywell online platform. They may also receive tips and additional resources to help them understand their results.
Price: A test kit costs $49.
A person may wish to consider the advantages and disadvantages of this test.
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What Causes High Levels Of Bad Cholesterol
Foods that are high in cholesterol are not the only contributor to bad cholesterol levels.
Instead, typically a combination of various lifestyle factors is to blame. Obesity, lack of exercise, diabetes, alcohol and cigarettes all play a role. Some people are also genetically predisposed to have high cholesterol levels.
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What Do The Results Mean
It is important for someone to know their cholesterol levels to make certain lifestyle changes to get to a healthy range. Numbers outside the desired level may mean a greater risk of cardiovascular disease.
Additional risk factors, such as smoking and being overweight, also play a role in a persons risk of cardiovascular disease.
The lists the following desired cholesterol levels:
| Total cholesterol |
Food and Drug Administration , home cholesterol tests have an accuracy level similar to doctors tests. But user error can affect the results.
It is essential for people to follow all manufacturers directions to get the most accurate results. The accuracy can also vary from brand to brand. When choosing an at-home cholesterol test, people should check it is affiliated with the CDCs tracking program. This means the test meets the programs standards for accuracy.
People that have cholesterol levels outside the desired ranges should consider talking to their healthcare professional. Different cholesterol values determine what type of treatment plan is most appropriate.
A doctor can recommend lifestyle changes and medications to help manage and lower high cholesterol.
lifestyle changes for high cholesterol include:
- maintaining a moderate weight via a balanced diet and regular exercise
- avoiding tobacco products and smoking
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Whats The Difference Between Ldl And Hdl Cholesterol
- LDL cholesterol = low-density lipoprotein. This is often referred to as âbad cholesterolâ because increased levels may lead to arterial plaque deposits. If unaddressed, these plaque deposits may lead to restricted blood flow throughout the body which can in turn lead to an increased risk of heart attack or stroke. Having a high level of LDL cholesterol can increase this risk. There are many factors that can influence higher LDL levels, such as family history, genetics, and dietary habits.
- HDL cholesterol = high-density lipoprotein. HDL is often referred to as the âgood cholesterolâ because it absorbs cholesterol and carries it back to the liver. This may in turn lower your risk of heart disease and stroke.