How To Test Your Own Cholesterol Levels

Testing With A Digital Meter Kit

1Invest in a digital tester if you need to check your cholesterol regularly. Although they cost at least twice as much as color-coded testing kitsusually around $100 USDdigital testers are easier to use, give more detailed results, and are more convenient for regular testing. If youre interested in tracking your cholesterol over time and you want specific readings for different types of cholesterol, make this your choice.XTrustworthy SourceMayo ClinicEducational website from one of the world’s leading hospitalsGo to source

A digital tester is a good choice if, for instance, you need to keep an eye on your readings because you have a history of high cholesterol.

Digital readout testers are available at pharmacies and online retailers. Always choose a kit thats approved by the FDA or similar government agency where you live.

2Wash your hands and open an alcohol swab, test strip, and lancet packet. Use soap and water to wash your hands and a clean towel to dry them. Open one of the sealed, sterile packages in your kit that contains a test strip, as well as one packet containing an alcohol swab. Also open one lancet package. Nearly all kits use lancets that are pre-loaded into individual lancet pens. Pop the cap off of the pen, if necessary, as directed by the kits instructions.XTrustworthy SourceUS Food and Drug AdministrationU.S. government agency responsible for promoting public healthGo to source

Your fingertip will likely stop bleeding on its own within seconds.

Home Blood Pressure Monitors

Home blood pressure monitors are a different story. They allow you to measure your blood pressure on a daily or even hourly basis, so you can gauge the effect of medication, activities, time of day, or even emotions on your blood pressure. They can be crucial if you tend toward high blood pressure, or if you have normal blood pressure, but get high readings at the doctor’s office, a condition called “white coat hypertension.”

Like blood pressure monitors in a doctor’s office, the at-home monitors measure the force of blood inside an artery in your arm. During the test, a cuff that is wrapped around your arm inflates, temporarily stopping the flow of blood in your arm. When the cuff is released, you will listen for the sound of blood flowing back into the artery.

You can choose from three different types of blood pressure monitors.

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Mylab Box At Home Cholesterol And Lipids Test

myLAB Box offers a finger prick collection method. This FDA-registered entity states that it works with CAP and CLIA-certified labs.

The company offers free 2-day shipping on home kits. Once people collect their blood samples, they should receive their results within 25 days.

myLAB Box states that people do not need to fast or adjust their diet before collecting their samples. It recommends that people still take any prescription medication until they discuss the test results with a doctor.

A person may also book a consultation with a myLAB Box physician if they receive a positive result.

How To Check Cholesterol At Home

Cholesterol and triglyceride testing at home can be done with the Everlywell Cholesterol & Lipids testing kit, which comes with easy to read instructions, lancets for pricking your finger, bandages, a blood spot collection card, and a prepaid shipping label for sending your blood sample to a certified lab.

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Are Results From A Cholesterol Home Test Kit Reliable

The reliability of cholesterol home tests varies, and the results can fluctuate. It depends on the maker of the kits. Many cholesterol home test kits advertise that they are greater than 95% accurate. Still, these cholesterol results should be considered approximations and should not take the place of a cholesterol test conducted by your health care provider.

In addition, even if you consistently get normal results from your cholesterol home kit test strips, it’s very important to consult with your health care provider. To determine your risk of heart disease, your health care provider will evaluate your cholesterol level along with other factors such as your weight, physical exam results, medical history, and family history. Your health care provider may conduct other tests aside from the cholesterol screening.

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. It is widely known that variance between labs can occur for any marker. This happens for either dried blood spot or serum samples, and we have ensured that the variation seen is within acceptable ranges according to widely accepted and regulated lab standards. We always encourage sharing the results of your test with your health care provider.

Everlywell can provide suggestions to jumpstart a healthier lifestyle. As always, we encourage you to share your results with your doctor, who can provide more specific guidance on lifestyle changes.

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Manual Blood Pressure Monitors

Technically called “sphygmomanometers,” manual blood pressure monitors consist of an arm cuff, a squeeze bulb, a gauge , and a stethoscope or microphone. To use them, you strap the cuff onto your arm, squeeze the bulb, and listen for the sound of your pulse starting and then fading away again.

Manual blood pressure monitors cost between $20 and $30 and can be difficult to use, especially if you’re not used to using a stethoscope, if you have impaired vision or hearing, or if you have trouble with manual dexterity.

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Healthy cholesterol levels are a key component of cardiovascular wellness. The American Heart Association recommends getting tested every four to six years beginning at age 20a blood lipid panel includes your total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein , low-density lipoprotein , and triglycerides. If you have cardiovascular disease or elevated risk, you may need more frequent testing. After age 40, your doctor would recommend testing based on your calculated risk of having a heart attack or stroke.

These regular check-ins can guide your doctor’s assessment of whether you need to make lifestyle adjustments or take medication to keep your blood cholesterol within a healthy range.

At-home testing kits can be handy for people diagnosed with high cholesterol who may want to test their blood more frequently.

While home cholesterol testing should not be used as a replacement for the comprehensive diagnostics provided by your physician, it can be an addition to a proactive health regimen.

Here are the best at-home cholesterol test kits that you can use in-between visits with your doctor.

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What Is The Difference Between Laboratory And Point

Traditionally, cholesterol tests have been done in laboratories where clear procedures are in place for proper sample collection and analysis. These mechanisms help make sure that rest results are reliable.

New technologies have made point-of-care and at-home tests more widely available. When their instructions are correctly followed, these tests have nearly the same accuracy as laboratory tests.

For at-home and point-of-care tests, blood is taken from your fingertip instead of from a vein in your arm. Because results do not need to be sent to a laboratory, results are provided within minutes instead of days.

Laboratory testing is considered to be standard and is what doctors rely on to make medical decisions. That said, at-home and point-of-care tests are convenient and may help with ongoing monitoring of cholesterol.

How Can I Work Out If I Am At Risk Of Heart Disease

A heart risk assessment will help you find out your risk of heart disease by building a picture of your risk based on factors such as your age, sex, ethnicity, cholesterol levels, smoking history, blood pressure, family history and other health conditions.Different people need a heart risk assessment at different ages. Find out more about heart risk assessment.

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Having Your Cholesterol Measured By A Doctor

1Have your cholesterol tested at least every 5 years if you’re an adult. All adults should have their cholesterol tested every 5 years. However, if you’re obese, over the age of 40, you smoke, or you have heart disease or diabetes , your doctor may recommend that you have the test done more often.XTrustworthy SourceAmerican Heart AssociationLeading nonprofit that funds medical research and public educationGo to source

If you’re under the age of 21, some doctors recommend getting a cholesterol screening once between the ages of 9-11 and again between the ages of 17-21. However, this may not be necessary unless you have a family history of high cholesterol or if you have other risk factors.XTrustworthy SourceCenters for Disease Control and PreventionMain public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human ServicesGo to source

Be sure to follow your doctor’s advice on how often to get tested so you can take steps to lower your cholesterol, if necessary. Even small changes to your diet and lifestyle can help improve your cholesterol levels, which may reduce your risk for having a heart attack or stroke.

Typically, your doctor will schedule the screening early in the morning, so you’ll just have to refrain from eating or drinking anything overnight.

Some tests don’t require you to fast, so be sure to ask your doctor ahead of time.

You’ll feel a pinch when the needle is inserted, but it shouldn’t be too painful.

What Are The Benefits

Home cholesterol test kits provide a fast and easy way to measure your cholesterol from the convenience of home. The Food and Drug Administration says the home kits can be as accurate as the tests your healthcare provider uses. However, accuracy varies from one brand to another.

While some healthcare providers no longer ask patients to fast for 8 hours or more before a cholesterol test, many still require it. Depending on the kit, you may not have to fast at all.

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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.

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

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Are Cholesterol Home Test Kits Regulated By The Fda

The FDA does regulate certain cholesterol home test kits. There are home test kits for HDL cholesterol and triglycerides, too. However, not all cholesterol home test kits you can buy meet the FDA’s stringent guidelines.

If you are unsure about which cholesterol home test kit to purchase, the FDA has set up the Over-The-Counter Database. You can find it on the FDA’s website. This database is an excellent resource to search for FDA-cleared cholesterol home test kits. You can also use it to find other types of home test kits.

Cholesterol Tests At Walgreens

High cholesterol is a very common health issue that has a number of causes and risk factors, including genetics, an unhealthy diet, overweight or a large waist circumference, a lack of exercise, smoking and diabetes. High cholesterol is often treatable and manageable with medications and lifestyle changes. Home cholesterol tests allow you to check your cholesterol level between doctor visits. Walgreens can help you easily purchase home cholesterol tests to keep track of your numbers.

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What Causes High Cholesterol

High cholesterol can have different causes in different people. Some of these causes can be changed and some of them cannot. Even if the underlying cause cannot be changed you can still improve your health by taking steps to lower your cholesterol .

Causes for high cholesterol which can be changed include:

• eating too much refined sugar or unhealthy fats
• alcohol

Causes for high cholesterol which cannot be changed include:

• your age
• some medical conditions.

How Often Do I Need To Get My Cholesterol Checked

The general recommendation is to get your cholesterol checked every 4 to 6 years. Some people may need to get their cholesterol checked more or less often depending on their risk of heart disease.

For example, high cholesterol can run in families. If someone in your family has high cholesterol or takes medicine to control cholesterol, you might need to get tested more often. Talk to your doctor about whats best for you.

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Do I Need To Call My Doctor For My Test Results

It usually takes a day or two from the time the blood is drawn until your health care professional receives the results of the cholesterol test. Ideally, the health care professional will contact you with those results and explain their significance. However, if you have not been contacted in a short period of time, it is reasonable to contact your health care professional and ask for the test results.

There are home cholesterol test kits available that have been U.S. FDA approved, but their accuracy is not necessarily as good as that of a certified laboratory. These tests usually measure total cholesterol only, but some also can measure HDL, LDL, and cholesterol. If you use one of the home kits, it is wise to discuss the results with your health-care professional.

The purpose of the cholesterol blood test is to determine whether treatment is needed for high cholesterol. That treatment may include dietary and lifestyle modifications, medications, or both to control cholesterol levels and decrease the risk of heart disease, stroke, and peripheral vascular disease.

Interpreting Your Cholesterol Levels And Setting Goals

1Keep your good cholesterol above the target range.XTrustworthy SourceMayo ClinicEducational website from one of the world’s leading hospitalsGo to source In order to effectively monitor your cholesterol levels, it is key to know what results you are aiming for on your blood tests. Good cholesterol is, perhaps ironically, a type of cholesterol where the higher your numbers are, the better.

Above 60 mg/dL is considered the “best” range for your HDL cholesterol.

Between 50 â 59 mg/dL is considered “better.”

Below 40 mg/dL in men and below 50 mg/dL in women is considered “poor.”

2Monitor your bad cholesterol to ensure that it stays as low as possible.XTrustworthy SourceMayo ClinicEducational website from one of the world’s leading hospitalsGo to source Opposite to the good cholesterol, you will want to keep your bad cholesterol as low as possible. The target range that you should be aiming for depends on your overall health, and any other cardiovascular risk factors that you may have.

Below 70 â 129 mg/dL is considered the best range for your LDL cholesterol .

Between 130 â 159 mg/dL is considered “borderline high.”

Between 160 â 189 mg/dL is considered “high.”

Above 190 mg/dL is considered “very high.”

Below 200 mg/dL is considered “desirable” for your total cholesterol .

Between 200 â 239 mg/dL is considered “borderline high.”

Above 240 mg/dL is considered “high.”

Below 150 mg/dL is considered “desirable.”

150 â 199 mg/dL is considered “borderline high.”

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How Can You Check Your Own Cholesterol

4 mins readTo use a cholesterol home test kit, Other risk factors, which is normally estimated rather than directly measured, Also included is LDL cholesterol, you place the blood droplet on the test strip, Place the drop of blood on a test strip.Cholesterol Test With the cerascreen® Cholesterol Test, Buy on Amazon Buy on Walmart, Cancel, your doctor will need to get a sample of your blood,

What Is A Cholesterol Home Test Kit

The cholesterol home test kit is a convenient and effective way to test your cholesterol level. It allows you to monitor your cholesterol without having to go to a doctor’s office. And, rather than waiting days or weeks for cholesterol test results, the cholesterol test kit can give you results in a matter of minutes.

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How Is A Total Cholesterol Test Different From A Direct Ldl Test

A total cholesterol test does not differentiate between good and bad cholesterol, but the bad LDL cholesterol plays an important role in determining cardiovascular disease risk.

In a standard lipid panel, LDL is calculated based on the levels of other fat molecules. However, in some cases, those calculations can be thrown off, especially if a person has high levels of triglycerides. A direct LDL test avoids the need for calculation by measuring LDL specifically.