How To Check Cholesterol
Typically, home cholesterol tests require a small sample of blood. Usually, you collect this by pricking your finger with a special device. The blood sample is then collected with the testing device. After a certain period of time, results are displayed for you to interpret. The cholesterol home test that you purchase will come with detailed instructions. Make sure to follow them carefully to ensure that you receive accurate results.
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What Does The Test Result Mean
In general, healthy lipid levels help to maintain a healthy heart and lower the risk of heart attack or stroke. A healthcare practitioner will take into consideration total cholesterol results and the other components of a lipid profile as well as other risk factors to help determine a person’s overall risk of heart disease, whether treatment is necessary and, if so, which treatment will best help to lower the person’s risk.
In 2002, the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III provided the guidelines for evaluating lipid levels and determining treatment. However, in 2013, the ACC and AHA issued guidelines for adults that made recommendations on who should receive cholesterol-lowing therapy. .
However, use of the updated guidelines remains controversial. Many still use the older guidelines from the NCEP ATP III to evaluate lipid levels and cardiovascular disease risk:
For adults, in a routine setting where testing is done to screen for risk, the test results are grouped in three categories of risk:
For children and adolescents:
- A cholesterol below 170 mg/dL is acceptable.
- A result of 170-199 mg/dL is borderline.
- A total cholesterol reading greater than or equal to 200 mg/dL is considered high.
For young adults:
- A cholesterol below 190 mg/dL is acceptable.
- A result of 190-224 mg/dL is borderline.
- A total cholesterol greater than or equal to 225 mg/dL is considered high.
Which Home Cholesterol Kit Is Best
An online look for the best home cholesterol kits will yield lists from a spread of sources like Best Reviews, All Top Guide, and VeryWell Fit. Heres a look at 3 top-ranking kits.
- CardioChek offers starter kits also as deluxe models. A starter kit comes with an electronic analyzer and 3 total cholesterol test strips, 3 HDL test strips, 3 triglyceride test strips, and 9 lancets. It sells for just over $140 on Amazon.
- Solana Healths Best Home Cholesterol Test measures LDL, HDL, and triglycerides. It includes everything you would like, plus a postage-paid return envelope, which is sent to a lab. The kit sells for about $46 on Solana Healths website.
- Everlywell manufactures a whole line of at-home health tests from thyroid to food sensitivity. The companys cholesterol test measures total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, and triglycerides, and includes a pre-paid shipping label and envelope. For $49 on Everlywells website, you get the kit plus a follow-up report with insights to your heart health and next steps.
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Why Trust Verywell Health
As a seasoned health writer, Alena Hall understands how important it is to know exactly what youre getting in a product intended for medical use. Over the years, she has reviewed dozens of products, from athletic recovery aids to condition-specific products to homeopathic essential oils, to help readers like you discover products that can help you live your best life.
Additional reporting to this story by Jennifer Nied
As a seasoned health writer, Jennifer Nied understands how vital quality product recommendations are for treating symptoms safely and effectively at home. For over 10 years, she has reviewed products, interviewed experts, scrutinized ingredients, and pored over research studies and claims, to help readers like you understand what works for your specific conditions. Every product in this piece was selected taking into account recommendations from doctors, published research, and real customer reviews.
Testing Cholesterol At Home
Home cholesterol test kits are available at pharmacies or online and may seem like an easier option than going to the lab to get your blood drawn.
With these tests, only a small finger prick with a lancet is needed. A drop of blood is placed on a test strip and may be inserted in to a meter, and the result is available in a matter of minutes. It is quick and convenient. But is this the best way to test your cholesterol?
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An Easy And Important Test
High cholesterol usually has no symptoms. Thats why its important to have your doctor check your cholesterol levels with a simple blood test.;
It may be a “fasting” or “non-fasting” lipoprotein profile. Your doctor will tell you if you should fast before your test.
In the test, a health care professional takes a sample of your blood. If additional blood tests are needed, all the samples are usually taken at once. Discomfort is usually minor.
After the blood sample is taken, its analyzed in a laboratory, where the levels of HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglycerides are measured. Your test report will show your cholesterol level in milligrams per deciliter of blood .
To determine your cardiovascular risk, your doctor will consider your cholesterol test results in context with your age, sex and family history. Other risk factors, such as smoking, diabetes and high blood pressure, will be considered as well.;If your risk remains uncertain, and treatment options are unclear, your healthcare professional may consider other factors and/or request a coronary artery calcium measurement;to provide greater insight into your risk and help in decision-making.
How Does A Cholesterol Test Work
The total cholesterol test measures the following:
- Total Cholesterol, the total amount of cholesterol in your blood
- HDL, high density lipoprotein
- LDL, low density lipoprotein
- Triglycerides, a type of fat found in the blood
The test is fast and pain free. It involves taking a single drop of blood from your finger tip and analysing it in a cholesterol test system.; Once your results are available our pharmacist will review your results with you and can offer lifestyle or diet advice if your cholesterol level is slightly higher than normal.
The following stores are able to provide instant cholesterol results: Balbriggan, Ballincollig, West St. Drogheda, Dundalk, Grafton St., Henry St., Navan SC, Phibsboro SC, Terenure, The Square SC.
Please note other stores use an accredited medical laboratory for sample analysis. Tests in these stores are available anytime Monday to Thursday and before 9.30am on Friday mornings.
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How To Test Cholesterol At Home
- Cholesterol and Lipoproteins
- How to Test Cholesterol at Home
Here you can get information about How to Test Cholesterol at Home. Testing your cholesterol may be a quick, easy, and important way to evaluate your risk of developing conditions like heart disease, diabetes, or stroke.
While getting tested at your doctors office is that the most reliable option, youll also use at-home tests that need only a little blood sample and a couple of minutes of waiting. Whether you select a color-coded strip kit or a digital readout kit, use your findings as a start line and work together with your doctor to form any changes necessary to improve your cholesterol levels and overall health.
How Is It Used
The test for total cholesterol is used alone or as part of a lipid profile to help predict an individual’s risk of developing heart disease and to help make decisions about what treatment may be needed if there is borderline or high risk. As part of a lipid profile , low-density lipoprotein cholesterol , and triglycerides), it may also be used to monitor the effectiveness of treatment once it is initiated.
Because high blood cholesterol has been associated with hardening of the arteries , heart disease, and a raised risk of death from heart attacks, cholesterol testing is considered a routine part of preventive healthcare.
Results of the cholesterol test and other components of the lipid profile are used along with other known risk factors of heart disease to develop a plan of treatment and follow-up. Treatment options may include lifestyle changes such as diet or exercise programs or lipid-lowering drugs such as statins.
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Can I Test My Own Cholesterol At Home
Its better to have your cholesterol tested by a professional because taking blood and measuring cholesterol levels is a skilled job and your results will be affected by the way you do the test. Going to a health professional means you will get an accurate reading.
We dont recommend home sampling, but if you do decide to test your cholesterol at home, follow these simple steps to take your sample safely and get a more accurate result.;;
When Should Adults Get Tested
Some health organizations recommend that everyone older than 20 be checked for high cholesterol.footnote 1 The Canadian Cardiovascular Society recommends cholesterol tests based on age and risk factors for heart disease.footnote 2 Talk to your doctor about when you should get a cholesterol test.
Canadian experts agree that the following people should have their cholesterol checked:
- Anyone who has strong risk factors for heart disease
- People who have a family history of early coronary artery disease
- Men age 40 and older.
- Women age 40 and older or who are post-menopausal
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Why Would I Need This Test
You might need this test if your doctor wants to assess your risk of developing heart disease. It is usually recommended every 5 years for people who are over 45 . If you have other risk factors for heart disease such as high blood pressure or diabetes, you will need the lipid test more regularly.
How Do You Buy The Best Cholesterol Home Test Kit
- Is it worth buying an Cholesterol Home Test Kit?
- What benefits are there with buying an Cholesterol Home Test Kit?
- What factors deserve consideration when shopping for an effective Cholesterol Home Test Kit?
- Why is it crucial to invest in any Cholesterol Home Test Kit, much less the best one?
- Which Cholesterol Home Test Kit are good in the current market?
- Where can you find information like this about Cholesterol Home Test Kit?
buying guides for Cholesterol Home Test Kit
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Cholesterol Test Results Explained
Your cholesterol results will provide you with a range of figures. Its important to look at each one and not just your total cholesterol. In the UK, cholesterol and triglyceride levels are measured in millimoles per litre of blood.
The ideal ranges are:
- LDL cholesterol ideally this should be below 3 mmol/L
- HDL cholesterol ideally this should be above 0.9 mmol/L
- triglycerides ideally this should be below 1.7 mmol/L
- total cholesterol ideally this should be below 5 mmol/L
- cholesterol ratio ideally this should be below 4 mmol/L
The reference ranges for LDL particle size;is are:
- less than 0.87 is ideal
- above 1.74 is high risk
- above 2.62 is very high risk
How Does Oxldl Occur
As LDLs encounter free radicals, the two compounds combine through a chemical process known as oxidation and form oxidized LDL cholesterol.
Upon that reaction, the LDLs become damaged, which triggers inflammation and attracts immune cells . These white blood cells engulf the damaged LDLs, which creates a sticky aggregate complex that can attach easily to artery walls and form the basis of plaque.
This is why oxLDLs significantly contribute of the development of atherosclerosis.
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What Are Risk Factors For High Blood Cholesterol
Lifestyle, some health conditions, and family history can raise your risk for high cholesterol. Your doctor may suggest you have your cholesterol checked more often if you have risk factors, such as the following:
- A family history of heart disease or high blood cholesterol. You are more at risk of having high cholesterol if other people in your family have it. This may be due to genetics, but it may also be that families share the same unhealthy lifestyle habits. Some people also have a genetic condition called familial hypercholesterolemia, which can cause high levels of low-density lipoprotein , or bad, cholesterol from a young age.
- Diabetes.;Type 2 diabetes raises bad cholesterol and lowers high-density lipoprotein , or good, cholesterol, raising the risk for heart disease and stroke.
- Older age.;As you age, your body cant clear cholesterol as well as it used to.
- Being male.;Men tend to have higher LDL and lower HDL cholesterol levels than women do. But after menopause , LDL cholesterol levels in women increase.4,5
- Having overweight or obesity.;Excess weight, unhealthy eating habits, and lack of physical activity can lead to high cholesterol.
- Previously having had high cholesterol.;If you have a history of high cholesterol, your doctor may want you to keep a closer watch on your cholesterol.
Your doctor may tell you not to eat or drink anything except water for 9 to 12 hours before the test.
What Can I Do To Lower My Oxldl Today
The supplement protocol weve had great luck with for dramatically reducing oxLDL numbers includes:
If you have questions about supplements or want help with an oxLDL-lowering protocol, you can schedule a free health coaching call here.
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Cholesterol And Lipid Tests
A cholesterol test looks at the various levels of cholesterol and other fats in the blood.
Lipids and cholesterol are fat-like substances in the body. If you have high levels of these fats, you are more at risk of a heart attack or stroke.
The test is one way of seeing if you are at risk and how you should be treated.
Are Test Results Accurate
Cholesterol testing is widely regarded as reliable. Although no test is perfect, laboratories follow strict protocols that help standardize cholesterol tests and make their results dependable. When these procedures and pre-test instructions are followed, inaccurate results are unlikely.
Point-of-care and at-home cholesterol tests are relatively accurate but are subject to more variation than laboratory testing. If abnormal results are found on one of these tests, follow-up testing by a laboratory is commonly recommended.
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When Should I Get Ldl Cholesterol Testing
LDL cholesterol testing may be used to assess your risk of cardiovascular disease or monitor changes in cholesterol over time.
Doctors will take factors such as age, family history, and other medical conditions when determining how often you should check your levels of LDL cholesterol. Examples of common screening recommendations are outlined below:
| Demographic Group | |
|---|---|
| With or without risk factors | Annually |
Having your cholesterol levels checked at regular intervals gives doctors a chance to notice any changes that could become harmful to your health. High or increasing cholesterol levels are a risk factor for heart disease, diabetes, or stroke, among other conditions.
Doctors may want to test your cholesterol levels more regularly if you or your family have a history of heart disease, smoking, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, obesity, a sedentary lifestyle, or a diet high in saturated fat.
Buying Guide For Best Home Cholesterol Test Kits
If your cholesterol levels dont fall within normal ranges, you are at risk for strokes and cardiovascular disease. To stay healthy, lipid profile blood testing as prescribed by your healthcare provider is important. But, in between doctor visits, how do you know if youre keeping your levels in check?;;
Home cholesterol test kits provide an easy way to test various forms of cholesterol and triglycerides. Many tests available on todays market offer a high degree of accuracy, and some are even approved by the Food and Drug Administration . And while home cholesterol testing should never take the place of thorough lipid testing performed by your doctor, its a good tool for monitoring your numbers before your next visit.
Whether this is your first time shopping for a home cholesterol test kit or you are browsing different options to find the best one for your needs, youve come to the right place. We have selected the top kits available based on reliability and results and put together a handy shopping guide below to help you choose the right kit for your needs.
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When Should I Have A Cholesterol Check
We believe all adults should know their cholesterol numbers, no matter what your age. Even if you havent been invited for a cholesterol check its a good idea to get one anyway because its the only way to know your cholesterol numbers.
You should also be offered a free cholesterol test by the NHS if any of the following apply to you:
-
You are aged 40-74
Your GP should invite you for an NHS health check once every five years from the age of 40 to 74. The NHS health check is designed to spot the early signs of heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, diabetes and dementia. Youll be weighed and measured, have a cholesterol check and a blood pressure check, and youll be asked some simple questions about your health.
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You are at high risk of heart disease
Your GP or practice nurse might also offer you a cholesterol test if you are more likely to develop heart disease. For example, if other people in your family have had it, you smoke, youre overweight, or you have high blood pressure, diabetes or certain other health problems.