Asked by: Yanine Forcano
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What is the best home cholesterol test kit?

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Consequently, are home cholesterol test kits accurate?

The results of home cholesterol tests are about95% accurate -- very close to the accuracy of adoctor's (or laboratory's) test.

Furthermore, how do you feel when you have high cholesterol? In this heart condition, excess LDL cholesterolbuilds up as plaque in the small arteries of your heart, narrowingand stiffening them. This reduces blood flow, which can makeyou feel tired or short of breath, as well as cause chestpain, notes the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute(NHLBI).

Considering this, can you test your cholesterol levels at home?

The standard cholesterol home test kit contains alancet for drawing blood and test strips. To use acholesterol home test kit, you first prickyour finger with the lancet. Next, you place theblood droplet on the test strip. The cholesterol hometest strip has special chemicals that change colors after a fewminutes.

What is the best drink to lower cholesterol?

Drinks That Can Help You Lower High Cholesterol

  • Green tea. Hot green tea | isa-7777/Getty Images.
  • Tart cherry juice. PR Newswire notes a study published in Food& Function found tart cherry juice may help cholesterol levelsand cardiovascular health in general.
  • Citrus juice. Lemons with lemon juice | iStock.com.
  • Cranberry juice.

Related Question Answers

Ligita Burgaz

Professional

Does Exercise Lower Cholesterol?

Exercise can improve cholesterol. Moderatephysical activity can help raise high-density lipoprotein(HDL) cholesterol, the "good" cholesterol. With yourdoctor's OK, work up to at least 30 minutes of exercise fivetimes a week or vigorous aerobic activity for 20 minutes threetimes a week.

Nordin Losas

Professional

What are the worst foods for high cholesterol?

Foods to avoid
  • fatty beef.
  • lamb.
  • pork.
  • poultry with skin.
  • lard and shortening.
  • dairy products made from whole or reduced-fat milk.
  • saturated vegetable oils, such as coconut oil, palm oil, andpalm kernel oil.

Rupinder Hachenthal

Professional

How long does it take to reduce cholesterol?

How long does it take to lower cholesterol withdiet and exercise guidelines like the Pritikin Program? For mostpeople, levels drop dramatically within three weeks. What'sheartening to know is that many people do not need to relyon prescription drugs – and their possible side effects– to reduce their cholesterol.

Mamadou Serrano De Cruz

Explainer

What is a normal cholesterol level?

Cholesterol levels for adults
Total cholesterol levels less than 200milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) are considered desirable foradults. A reading of less than 40 mg/dL is considered a major riskfactor for heart disease. A reading from 41 mg/dL to 59 mg/dL isconsidered borderline low.

Patricio Cassagne

Explainer

What is a healthy cholesterol level by age?

Cholesterol chart for adults
Total cholesterol LDL cholesterol
Good Less than 200 (but the lower the better) Less than 100; below 70 if coronary artery disease ispresent
Borderline to Moderately elevated n/a
150–199 High n/a
200 or higher; 500 considered very high Low less than 40

Azahara Weissbarth

Explainer

How often should you get your cholesterol checked?

The American Heart Association recommends that alladults 20 or older have their cholesterol and othertraditional risk factors checked every four to six years.After age 40, your health care provider will also want touse an equation to calculate your 10-year risk ofexperiencing cardiovascular disease or stroke.

Qiming Weigele

Pundit

Is there a home test for triglycerides?

The FDA has approved home cholesteroltests that measure total cholesterol, high-densitylipoprotein (HDL), and triglycerides. Typically,tests conducted in a laboratory or through your doctor'soffice will provide more comprehensive results, often includinglow-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels andtriglycerides.

Rayhana Paulissen

Pundit

Can you check cholesterol without blood test?

The truth is, your cholesterol can be testedwithout fasting. This is because your low-density lipoproteins(LDL) — also known as “bad” cholesterol— may be affected by what you've recently eaten. Yourlevels of triglycerides (another type of fat in your blood)may also be affected by a recent meal.

Aleta Ikusgarri

Pundit

How can I lower my cholesterol fast without medication?

How to lower your cholesterol without drugs
  1. You can begin to reduce your "bad" LDL cholesterol naturally bymaking a few simple changes in your diet. Image:Thinkstock.
  2. Weed out trans fats and saturated fats.
  3. Eat more polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats.
  4. Go crazy with colorful fruits and vegetables.
  5. Avoid refined sugars and grains.
  6. Remember to count your calories.

Maile Madrid

Pundit

How do they test for high cholesterol?

A blood test to check cholesterol levels— called a lipid panel or lipid profile — typicallyreports: Total cholesterol. LDLcholesterol.

Azzedine Wried

Pundit

How do I prepare for a cholesterol test?

Generally you're required to fast, consuming no food orliquids other than water, for nine to 12 hours before thetest. Some cholesterol tests don't requirefasting, so follow your doctor's instructions.

Happy Habov

Teacher

How much does a cholesterol test cost?

Cholesterol testing at a local pharmacy cancost $5 to $25. An at-home test can costanywhere from $15 to $25, while tests that need to beshipped to a lab can average $75 to $200. There are very fewrisks associated with having your blood drawn for a cholesteroltest.

Rober Esono

Teacher

How do you raise HDL levels?

Here are nine healthy ways to raise your "good" HDLcholesterol.
  1. Consume olive oil. Extra virgin olive oil may be more healthfulthan processed olive oils.
  2. Follow a low-carb or ketogenic diet.
  3. Exercise regularly.
  4. Add coconut oil to your diet.
  5. Stop smoking.
  6. Lose weight.
  7. Choose purple produce.
  8. Eat fatty fish often.

Housna Fecke

Teacher

What foods are high in cholesterol?

Here are 7 high-cholesterol foods that are incrediblynutritious.
  • Eggs. Eggs are one of the most nutritious foods you caneat.
  • Cheese. A 1-ounce (28-gram) serving of cheese provides 27 mg ofcholesterol, or about 9% of the RDI (16).
  • Shellfish.
  • Pasture-Raised Steak.
  • Organ Meats.
  • Sardines.
  • Full-Fat Yogurt.

Jorge Uphoff

Teacher

What causes high cholesterol?

Factors that can increase your risk of bad cholesterolinclude:
  • Poor diet. Eating saturated fat, found in animal products, andtrans fats, found in some commercially baked cookies and crackersand microwave popcorn, can raise your cholesterol level.
  • Obesity.
  • Lack of exercise.
  • Smoking.
  • Age.
  • Diabetes.

Ramesh Raviprakash

Reviewer

How can I lower my cholesterol naturally?

Below are 10 natural ways to improve your cholesterollevels.
  1. Focus on Monounsaturated Fats.
  2. Use Polyunsaturated Fats, Especially Omega-3s.
  3. Avoid Trans Fats.
  4. Eat Soluble Fiber.
  5. Exercise.
  6. Lose Weight.
  7. Don't Smoke.
  8. Use Alcohol in Moderation.

Abass Mainho

Reviewer

Does Walgreens do cholesterol screening?

To find the nearest Walgreens offering thesetesting services, visit the store locator atwww.walgreens.com/findastore and check the “healthtests” box, or call 1-877-W-and-YOU (1-877-926-3968).Walgreens pharmacists administer tests byfingerstick. Cost for testing is: Total cholesteroland HDL - $30.

Nahara

Reviewer

Does stress cause high cholesterol?

There is compelling evidence that your level ofstress can cause an increase in badcholesterol indirectly. For example, one study found thatstress is positively linked to having less healthy dietaryhabits, a higher body weight, and a less healthy diet, all of whichare known risk factors for high cholesterol.

Janae Ohler

Reviewer

Does high cholesterol make you gain weight?

As men and women age, they are also more likely togain weight, which can raise cholesterollevels. Are overweight or have obesity. Having more body fatis linked to unhealthy cholesterol levels.