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It states that its laboratories are approved by and part of the College of American Pathologists program. Often, there are no specific symptoms of high cholesterol. Cholesterol home test kits come in several different formats, and each one will require you to complete different steps during the process. While home test kits offer several benefits, they also have shortcomings. A person may wish to consider the advantages and disadvantages of myLAB Box.
LDL builds up on the walls of your arteries, blocking healthy blood flow and raising your stroke and heart attack risk. 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. Cholesterol tests are an important part of your health care providers visit, but what about when you need fast results? You can get quick answers from some home kits available at stores nationwide.
HDL
Your cholesterol level is one part of an equation that your doctor uses to determine your risk of a heart attack and stroke in the next 10 years. Other parts include your race, gender, age, HDL cholesterol level, and blood pressure. In addition, the equation factors in your use of blood pressure medications, whether or not you have diabetes, and if you smoke. 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.
We include products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission. Accuracy, ease of use and affordability are all critical considerations for testing cholesterol at home. For accuracy and quick results, the top choice is the Solana Health FDA-Approved Cholesterol Test Kit. Know that FDA-approved tests differ from FDA-cleared or FDA-registered tests. Tests in the latter group have not been evaluated for efficacy or safety based on their intended use.
What If My Cholesterol Levels Aren’t Healthy
You can send your blood sample to a lab and wait to receive your results via mail or email. There are three types of at-home cholesterol test kits. The monitor itself is sleek and compact, making it an ideal choice for folks who travel a lot or seem to always be on the move. The kit comes with the meter, 10 profile testing strips, lancets, capillary rods, and a one-year warranty.
The spot on the testing strip where you wiped your blood sample will slowly change color. Be sure to wait the amount of time directed by the kit’s instructions, or your results may not be accurate. Once you know your risk, you and your doctor can work to lower your likelihood of a heart attack or stroke. In addition to healthy lifestyle and dietary changes, you may need a medication known as a statin to reduce the level of LDL cholesterol that’s in your blood by 20 to 60 percent.
A Word from Verywell
But at home, without expert guidance, they often aren't. One problem is that people tend to squeeze or "milk" a finger to get blood onto the test strip or into the well. Instead, a color guide provides information on cholesterol levels. Statins remain the most frequently prescribed cholesterol fighting drug on the market.
When it comes to the medication you're taking or any other health questions you have, always consult your healthcare provider directly. In addition to lowering cholesterol—and by extension lowering heart attack and stroke risk—PCSK9 inhibitors may also someday provide a surprising benefit to those with cancer. That's because, as the researchers point out, inhibiting PCSK9 can enhance the efficacy of cancer immunotherapies. First introduced to the market in 2015, PCSK9 inhibitors offer an alternative to the most common cholesterol fighting medication, statins. Currently, there are two PCSK9 inhibitor medications approved by the FDA—Alirocumab and Evolocumab . Both are administered in hospitals or primary care facilities in the form of injections every three months, and monitored using blood tests.
How do home kits measure cholesterol?
Once your results are available our pharmacist will review your results with you and can offer lifestyle or diet advice if your cholesterol level is slightly higher than normal. Theres good cholesterol, known as high-density lipoprotein . And theres bad cholesterol known as low-density lipoprotein .
Its easy to measure at home with no equipment and offers useful information about your heart and overall fitness. Dr. Litza is a board certified Family Medicine Physician in Wisconsin. If you dont use a kit with an electronic meter, you may have trouble reading the color on the test strip. This will make it more difficult to interpret your test results. It’s easy to measure at home with no equipment and offers useful information about your heart and overall fitness.
If any of your numbers are outside the healthy range, you are considered to have high cholesterol. Please note other stores use an accredited medical laboratory for sample analysis. Tests in these stores are available anytime Monday to Thursday and before 9.30am on Friday mornings. Your sample will be analysed by a CQC-registered and UKAS accredited lab. Solana Healths Best Home Cholesterol Test measures LDL, HDL, and triglycerides.
Take a good look at both the pen and the product instructions so you’re sure how to use the lancet correctly. If you need further guidance, talk to your pharmacist. “mg/dl” refers to milligrams of cholesterol per deciliter of blood. The higher your mg/dl is, the more susceptible you are to developing blockages in your arteries. Assessing a color-coded test strip too early or too late could give you an incorrect result.
By checking your numbers, youâll know if itâs time to take steps to help lower your risk of a more serious health problem. High levels of triglycerides also raise your stroke risk. If youre taking medications that could increase your cholesterol levels, such as birth control pills, your doctor may ask you to stop taking them a few days before your test. Everlywell can provide suggestions to jumpstart a healthier lifestyle. As always, we encourage you to share your results with a healthcare provider who can provide specific guidance on medication and lifestyle changes. Some kits come with a pre-paid mailer like the American Diabetes Associations CheckUp America Cholesterol Panel.
Whether or not you determine that you have high lipid levels from taking a home cholesterol test, you should still follow up with your healthcare provider and get your lipids checked. If your home cholesterol test determines that your lipid levels are high, you should definitely make an appointment with your healthcare provider for additional testing. Your healthcare provider will determine how high your different lipid levels truly are and will take the appropriate measures to help you improve your heart health. Just like when you get your lipids tested in your healthcare provider’s office, you still need to fast for at least 8 to 12 hours before getting your lipids checked at home, too. Depending on what is tested, not fasting may result in you getting a reading that is much higher than your levels really are. Using at-home cholesterol tests is a convenient way for people to test their cholesterol levels without needing to make an appointment with a healthcare professional.
Is Tofu Good For Cholesterol
In that case, you should talk with your doctor for specific guidance. Your doctor can also review the pros and cons of at-home cholesterol testing in your situation. Getting started with a home cholesterol test is one of the major determinants of a successful and accurate test. First, a home test will give you as many accurate results as a traditional lab test. You only just have to make sure that you ordered the kit from a reputable company and follow the instructions provided.
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