How To Test Cholesterol At Home

Table of Content

• Non-urgent advice: Ask your GP surgery or pharmacy for a cholesterol test if:
• How To Lower Cholesterol Naturally And Fast
• Cons of Everlywell At-Home Cholesterol and Lipids Test
• A quick look at the best at-home cholesterol tests of 2022
• Pros of LetsGetChecked At-Home Cholesterol Test
• Do I Need To Call My Doctor For My Test Results

Some people find out through routine check-ups that include blood tests. If youâve tested cholesterol at a health fair or at home and you got a high reading or you arenât sure, call your doctor. A normal total cholesterol reading is less than 200 mg/dL.

Still, these cholesterol results should be considered approximations and should not take the place of a cholesterol test conducted by your health care provider. When a person has high LDL levels, the cholesterol builds up in their blood vessels, causing them to narrow. This prevents blood from flowing, which, in turn, increases the risk of heart attack and stroke. Some at-home lab kits go further when it comes to analyzing your cholesterol levels. In addition to providing you with your cholesterol numbers, the best kits give personalized and actionable results.

Non-urgent advice: Ask your GP surgery or pharmacy for a cholesterol test if:

At-home self-tests and self-collection tests rely on a smaller amount of blood obtained with a fingerstick. By checking your numbers, youâll know if itâs time to take steps to help lower your risk of a more serious health problem. Verywell Health articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and healthcare professionals. These medical reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research.

The kit sells for about $46 on Solana Healths website. An online search for the best home cholesterol kits will yield lists from a variety of sources like Best Reviews, All Top Guide, and VeryWell Fit. Here are the best at-home cholesterol test kits that you can use in-between visits with your doctor.

How To Lower Cholesterol Naturally And Fast

In some cases, your doctor may ask you to fast before having your cholesterol levels tested. If youre only getting your HDL and total cholesterol levels checked, you may be able to eat beforehand. However, if youre having a complete lipid profile done, you should avoid eating or drinking anything other than water for nine to 12 hours before your test. Blood pressure is easy to measure with an inflatable cuff around your arm and anyone over the age of 18 should have it checked.

Many people have never had their cholesterol checked, so they dont know whether they are at risk. MyLAB Box states that people do not need to fast or adjust their diet before collecting their sample. It also recommends that people still take any prescription medications until they discuss the test results with a doctor.

Cons of Everlywell At-Home Cholesterol and Lipids Test

With sampling kits, you take a small blood sample at home which you post to a laboratory for testing, and you receive your results later. The only way to know whether you have high cholesterol is to get your cholesterol checked. Your health care team can do a simple blood test, called a lipid profile, to measure your cholesterol levels.

If youâve had your blood pressure or cholesterol checked at the doctorâs office, your health care providers can help you to understand the results. Theyâll also consider the results in the context of any other potential risk factors you may have. Leaving high cholesterol untreated could lead to life-threatening health conditions like a heart attack or stroke. It is important to regularly check your cholesterol levels to know if you need to lower them with lifestyle modifications and medication. At-home testing is a tool that can provide clarity about your cholesterol levels and risk of heart disease.

A quick look at the best at-home cholesterol tests of 2022

For many of us, staying in tune with our health mostly happens at the office of our healthcare provider. But if you’re hoping to improve your wellness or simply want to know where you stand, it can help to have options that meet you where you are. The Food and Drug Administration states that at-home tests they have approved are about as accurate as the tests done by your doctor if you follow the instructions correctly.

To be clear, we recommend regularly getting your heart checked out by a pro. Your heart rate, also known as your pulse, is a basic measurement of heart health, which is why your doctor or nurse often listens for it during check-ups. It’s easy to measure at home with no equipment and offers useful information about your heart and overall fitness. Once a person has collected their blood sample, they should receive their results within 25 days. It depends on the type of cholesterol and their levels.

High cholesterol rarely presents with visible signs and symptoms. There are rare cases in which there may be physical signs, such as around the eyes and/or over the tendons, but this occurs for the minority of people. Normally, high cholesterol must be screened for and detected via a blood test. If you do in fact get diagnosed with high cholesterol, your doctor can advise you as to an appropriate treatment plan.

The only tool missing from these kits is the lab itself. After all, it’d be tough to mail board-reviewed physicians and state-of-the-art equipment to your doorstep. Fortunately, you can still gain their expertise with nothing more than some postage.

What are at-home cholesterol tests?

If youâre interested in purchasing your own at home cholesterol test, be sure to read our quick guide to common testing options here. 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.