| Home cholesterol test is a simple and convenient | | | | polyunsaturated fats. |
| method to determine our cholesterol level. Even though | | | | Consuming a lot of saturated fats (processed meats |
| it can be accurate, it is not a universal replacement for | | | | like salami and sausages, full fat dairy products, cakes, |
| a clinical test which usually includes recommendations | | | | snack foods like chips, deep fried foods, biscuits) might |
| for actions if the levels are above normal values. | | | | raise the levels of LDL in the blood, so these kinds of |
| Normal level is not the same for all people. It depends | | | | fats are often called 'bad fats'. Consuming |
| on various circumstances. | | | | monounsaturated fats (canola oil, olive oil, avocados |
| Why do we need to test its level? | | | | and most nuts) or polyunsaturated fats (oils of seeds |
| Cholesterol is not some evil poison we should be afraid | | | | and grains, such as sunflower, soybeans and walnuts, |
| of. It is a fat-like substance manufactured by the liver | | | | safflower, corn), might increase the levels of HDL. |
| and occurs naturally in all parts of our body. It is | | | | These fats are called 'good fats'. Eating these can |
| needed for making hormones like testosterone and | | | | reduce the risk of artery diseases. |
| adrenaline and production of bile acids. Therefore, it is | | | | There are many ways to test the level of cholesterol. |
| essential for our body. Cholesterol can also be | | | | It is determined by a simple analysis of the blood. One |
| consumed--it is present in animal foods. | | | | of the recent popular methods is home test. This test |
| Cholesterol by itself is not a problem. It is its level in our | | | | can be accurate up to 95% of the time comparing to |
| body that can contribute to health problems. In general, | | | | usual clinical test. Home test requires only a drop of |
| there are two types, LDL and HDL. LDL (low-density | | | | blood and after a few minutes we get the result by |
| lipoprotein) carries cholesterol from the liver to the rest | | | | reading the test device to determine cholesterol level in |
| of the body. HDL (high-density lipoprotein) removes it | | | | our blood. Some home tests measure only total level, |
| from the bloodstream and takes it back to the liver. | | | | while most can measure also LDL and HDL levels. |
| Excessive cholesterol can cause LDL to deposit it | | | | A little note about units: serum lipid values in US, India |
| onto the arteries. This is called plaque. Over time, this | | | | and many other countries are reported as milligrams |
| plaque hardens the walls of the arteries. They become | | | | per deciliter (e.g. 200 mg/dL), while Australia, UK and |
| narrowed and blood flow to the heart is slowed down | | | | Europe use SI units and the level is reported in millimole |
| or even blocked. Since the blood carries oxygen to the | | | | per liter (e.g. 5.10 mmol/L). |
| heart, you may suffer chest pain if enough oxygen | | | | If we have results from some previous clinical test, we |
| cannot reach your heart. If the blood supply to a | | | | can use home test to check if the level has changed |
| portion of the heart is completely blocked, the result is | | | | since. It is not so easy to determine if our level is |
| a heart attack. | | | | normal or too high from only one home test and |
| The types of fats we eat determine how much LDL | | | | without examining our circumstances. There are many |
| and HDL we have in our blood. Fats in our diet are | | | | factors that determine what a normal level is. |
| divided into different types, according to their chemical | | | | Therefore, it is advised to consult our doctor for |
| composition: saturated fats, monounsaturated fats and | | | | interpretation of the results of a home cholesterol test. |