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Cholesterol Home Test
Why should I test for Cholesterol?
When your cholesterol rises above the desirable level, it may build up in your body and may put you at increased risk for heart disease or stroke. Cholesterol levels can be high because of your diet, the amount of exercise you get and your family history. High cholesterol is one of the main risk factors for coronary heart disease that you can control.
There really are no warning signs for high cholesterol levels. When symptoms finally do occur, they usually take the form of angina or a heart attack in response to the buildup of plaque in the arteries. This is a condition that demands an investment in prevention before dangerous, life-threatening symptoms occur.
Knowing your total blood cholesterol level is an important first step in determining your risk for heart disease. Remember, just because you dont currently exhibit any signs of heart disease, doesnt mean you wont develop them. Now is the best time for prevention. Otherwise, a high blood cholesterol level, as well as other risk factors, can lead to possible serious problems in the future.
How often should I test for Cholesterol
The National Cholesterol Education Program advises that if you are older than 20 you should have a Total Cholesterol test. If your test results are in the desirable range, you can be re-tested as early as every 2 years.
If you have borderline or high cholesterol levels, and you already have evidence of hearth disease, you should have a Cholesterol Panel performed. In addition, you should get a thorough medical evaluation by a health care professional.
If you are currently being treated with cholesterol-lowering medications, you may need to have your cholesterol panel re-tested (initially) as often as every 3 months. You should also have a Liver Enzyme Panel test performed to determine if your cholesterol reduction treatment is working effectively.
Test results provide important information, but never adjust your medication(s) based on the test results alone. Always consult with your health care professional before making any changes in your treatment.
Which kinds of cholesterol home tests are available?
Instant Total Cholesterol Test:
Instant Total Cholesterol Test Kit results are available in ONLY 15 minutes. The test is simple and easy to use, requiring only a few drops of blood obtained from a finger stick sample. The kit comes with an instructional insert that allows the user to interpret the results using the updated National Cholesterol Education (NCEP) guidelines. The test performance has been reviewed by the FDA, and is considered to be 97% accurate when compared to the clinical laboratory methods used by doctors and hospitals.
Cholesterol Panel Test:
Cholesterol Panel Test is a self collected, laboratory analysis that measures the amount of total cholesterol, the amount of HDL and LDL cholesterol, and the triglyceride level in your blood. This is the most comprehensive form of cholesterol testing available.
An entire cholesterol "panel" of tests must be conducted in order to accurately determine the relationship between HDL, LDL and Triglycerides. Only in this way can you get a "complete" cholesterol profile.
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