*Green Action cholesterol Reader Series

High Cholesterol and Self Testing

Did you know that high cholesterol is a serious problem that is common in America? You will find that it is because Americans do not know how to properly eat. You will find that high cholesterol is part of a serious epidemic, but it is also killing people because it will cause you to have a heart attack or stroke. Once you turn 18 years of age, you should go to the doctor on a regular basis to get your cholesterol checked out.

You will want to make sure that it is checked every five years or so, however, if you are at serious risk for a heart attack or stroke (because they are genetically linked), you will want to go every year. You may want to stay concerned about your cholesterol levels throughout your entire adult lie, because you can be at risk at anytime for a heart attack, however, if you deal with it quickly, you’ll be able to reduce your risks. You may want to get a home kit to test your levels in the privacy of your own home. You will then want to go to some of the local pharmacies to try to locate one. If you do have high levels, you will want to consult your doctor to help you moderate your healthy cholesterol levels.

You will want to research all the options that you have and you’ll want to do the research before you test your own cholesterol levels. First, you need to learn a little about cholesterol levels and what they tell you about your health. There are three or more different cholesterol readings that your doctor takes to review your health. When it comes to the good cholesterol or HDL you will want this level to be above 40 or higher. On the other hand, LDL cholesterol, commonly called “bad cholesterol” should be kept lower, at 130 for those in good health with no family history of heart attacks or stroke and at 100 or lower if your family does have a history of heart attacks or stroke. When it comes to your cholesterol report, you may want to ask about all the other numbers that may be included, but your cholesterol numbers are the most important ones to monitor.

You should also know that most home testing kits will only give you a total cholesterol reading. This number should be under 200 and includes not only HDL and LDL numbers, but other considerations as well. You may end up suffering from high LDL and low HDL, but you may have a completely comfortable cholesterol level. This can be very misleading. Some self-testing kits are now adding other reading options to make this process easier, but if you aren’t knowledgeable about the many different kinds of cholesterol, this can be confusing.

You will want to make sure that you follow all of the directions to the self-testing kit very carefully. If you will do it correctly, you will find that testing your cholesterol accurately like the doctor had itself. You will want to remember that there are some companies that have better products, such as the kits that are available on the Market.

You will have to prick your finger to test the cholesterol, but then again, if blood makes your squeamish, you can always find an option that will help you. These kits are not something that you should replace a regular doctor’s visit. You will want to make an appointment with your doctor if you are uncertain about your cholesterol levels or if you think that it might be at an unhealthy level.