Home Cholesterol Test

Home cholesterol test is a simple and convenient method to determine our cholesterol level. Even though it can be accurate, it is not a universal replacement for a clinical test which usually includes recommendations for actions if the levels are above normal values. Normal level is not the same for all people. It depends on various circumstances.

Why do we need to test its level?

Cholesterol is not some evil poison we should be afraid of. It is a fat-like substance manufactured by the liver and occurs naturally in all parts of our body. It is needed for making hormones like testosterone and adrenaline and production of bile acids. Therefore, it is essential for our body. Cholesterol can also be consumed--it is present in animal foods.

Cholesterol by itself is not a problem. It is its level in our body that can contribute to health problems. In general, there are two types, LDL and HDL. LDL (low-density lipoprotein) carries cholesterol from the liver to the rest of the body. HDL (high-density lipoprotein) removes it from the bloodstream and takes it back to the liver. Excessive cholesterol can cause LDL to deposit it onto the arteries. This is called plaque. Over time, this plaque hardens the walls of the arteries. They become narrowed and blood flow to the heart is slowed down or even blocked. Since the blood carries oxygen to the heart, you may suffer chest pain if enough oxygen cannot reach your heart. If the blood supply to a portion of the heart is completely blocked, the result is a heart attack.

The types of fats we eat determine how much LDL and HDL we have in our blood. Fats in our diet are divided into different types, according to their chemical composition: saturated fats, monounsaturated fats and polyunsaturated fats.

Consuming a lot of saturated fats (processed meats like salami and sausages, full fat dairy products, cakes, snack foods like chips, deep fried foods, biscuits) might raise the levels of LDL in the blood, so these kinds of fats are often called 'bad fats'. Consuming monounsaturated fats (canola oil, olive oil, avocados and most nuts) or polyunsaturated fats (oils of seeds and grains, such as sunflower, soybeans and walnuts, safflower, corn), might increase the levels of HDL. These fats are called 'good fats'. Eating these can reduce the risk of artery diseases.

There are many ways to test the level of cholesterol. It is determined by a simple analysis of the blood. One of the recent popular methods is home test. This test can be accurate up to 95% of the time comparing to usual clinical test. Home test requires only a drop of blood and after a few minutes we get the result by reading the test device to determine cholesterol level in our blood. Some home tests measure only total level, while most can measure also LDL and HDL levels.

A little note about units: serum lipid values in US, India and many other countries are reported as milligrams per deciliter (e.g. 200 mg/dL), while Australia, UK and Europe use SI units and the level is reported in millimole per liter (e.g. 5.10 mmol/L).

If we have results from some previous clinical test, we can use home test to check if the level has changed since. It is not so easy to determine if our level is normal or too high from only one home test and without examining our circumstances. There are many factors that determine what a normal level is. Therefore, it is advised to consult our doctor for interpretation of the results of a home cholesterol test.

You can get more information about home cholesterol test at homecholesteroltest.org Home Cholesterol Test website. Here you can read about high cholesterol foods, cholesterol lowering foods, homecholesteroltest.org/cholesterol-lowering-diet cholesterol-lowering diet, cholesterol medicine, normal cholesterol levels and other aspects of cholesterol in our life.