Even though 75% of the cholesterol that is present in our body is produced by the liver and other cells in our body, the lifestyle that we lead also contributes to the amount of cholesterol (chol.) that we have. Needless to say, the remaining 25% of the cholesterol in the body is mainly due to the diet that is consumed. A home cholesterol test can tell you the level of total cholesterol that you have at any given point in time.
The prevalence of high cholesterol is as high as 37.13% in the United States. This means that more than 1 in every 3 Americans is taking some medication or being treated for high cholesterol. It is also estimated that more than a quarter of women have chol. levels that are so high that they pose a threat of heart disease. One of the ways in which more serious complications of high cholesterol can be avoided is by using home cholesterol tests so that a regular check can be kept on one’s levels.
However, it is often assumed that cholesterol testing is required only after the age of 40 or 45. Many people do not even get the recommended once in a five year period cholesterol blood test done. The National Cholesterol Education Program recommends that everyone who is 20 years or above of age should get cholesterol testing with lipoprotein profile done at least once every five years. And this is based on the fact that a prevalence of 11 percent high cholesterol has been estimated even among men who are between the age of 20 and 34 years.
The frequency at which cholesterol testing should be done needs to be higher if you have a history of high cholesterol in your family. These days some incidence of high cholesterol has been noticed among kids as young as 4 or 5 years of age too. The factors that lead to high cholesterol among kids are obesity, diet and hereditary factors.
While it is mandatory for those who have high cholesterol to get the cholesterol checks done regularly based on the recommendation of the doctor, those who are at a high risk should also get a test done once in a while. If you consider going to the laboratory and waiting for your turn to give a sample to be too much of a time consuming activity, you can stock up with a home test that allows you to test your total cholesterol in an easy manner.
Such tests are available online, require no doctor’s prescription, and can be used to test cholesterol levels in a matter of a few minutes. It is a great way to keep an eye on your levels and take remedial action if you are a borderline high cholesterol case. Adequate diet modification and a few lifestyle changes can result in better management of cholesterol levels.
Some of the measures that you can take as soon as you notice borderline results in your home cholesterol test include exercise, reduction in calories from saturated and trans fats and moderation in alcohol consumption. Consumption of fresh fruits, fiber and fish have also been known to help those who see high cholesterol levels in their cholesterol blood test in lowering the levels.
Check out our home cholesterol test page to learn about the two different types of test we carry – the full lipid panel and the total cholesterol measuring test.
Learn more about cholesterol by visiting the National Cholesterol Education Program.
