Testing Cholesterol

Testing the cholesterol level at home is simple and convenient. It consumes very less time and energy.  Though it gives you accurate readings it is not a universal replacement for a clinical test. You can only do this temporarily at home and have to approach a lab for the detailed test done which also includes prescriptions if the levels are above the normal values.

What is cholesterol?

It is a fat-like substance manufactured by the liver and occurs naturally in all parts of our body. It is also very essential for making hormones like testosterone and adrenaline and production of bile acids. Therefore, it is essential for our body in reasonable quantity.

How is it harmful?

The Normal level is not the same for all people and depends on various circumstances. Cholesterol by itself is not a problem. But when it is present in alarming large quality then it is a cause of concern as it leads to serious health problems. There are two types– LDL and HDL. LDL (low-density lipoprotein) carries cholesterol from the liver to the rest of the body while HDL (high-density lipoprotein) removes it from the bloodstream and takes it back to the liver. Excessive levels of cholesterol can cause LDL to deposit it onto the arteries called plaque. Over a period of time, this plaque hardens the walls of the arteries causing them to narrow thereby causing the blow flow to slow down or even get blocked.  This may result in chest pain as sufficient oxygen does not reach the heart. And if the blood supply to a portion of the heart gets completely blocked it results in a heart attack.

The types of fats we eat determine the level of LDL and HDL in our blood… Fats in our diet are of various types based on their chemical composition: saturated fats, monounsaturated fats and polyunsaturated fats.

Consuming a lot of saturated fats also termed as ‘Bad fats” such as processed meats like salami and sausages, full fat dairy products, cakes, chips, deep fried foods and biscuits might raise the levels of LDL in the blood.. Consuming monounsaturated fats such as those found in canola oil, olive oil, avocados and most all nuts or polyunsaturated fats such as oils of seeds and grains like sunflower, soybeans and walnuts, safflower and corn may increase the levels of HDL. These fats are called Good fat’s. Eating these can reduce the risk of heart diseases.

Need for Cholesterol test:

There are many ways to test the cholesterol levels. It is determined by a simple blood analysis. Home tests have become very popular in recent times. It can be accurate by up to 95%. Besides, it is also very easy to perform. All you need is a drop of blood and we can also get the results immediately by reading the test device and thereby determining the cholesterol level in our blood. Some home tests are meant to measure only total level while most others can measure also LDL and HDL levels

The note about units you need to be aware of: serum lipid values in US, India and many other countries are reported as milligrams per deciliter (e.g. 200 mg/dL), while Australia, UK and Europe use SI units and the level is reported in mill mole per liter (e.g. 5.10 mol/L).

If you have already got the tests earlier you can do the test at home to determine any change in the levels. Also you can conclude the results by just one test because there are various factors to be taken into consideration. Therefore, it is advised to consult our doctor to interpret results and suggest the future course of action.