Lower Your Cholesterol

Having your level of cholesterol read is very important for your health. Cholesterol readings consist of total cholesterol, low level lipoprotein cholesterol levels (LDL cholesterol), triglycerides and high density lipoprotein cholesterol level (HDL cholesterol). When you are having your cholesterol level checked by your doctor you should have all 3 types checked. The desirable total cholesterol readings are 200mg/dL with a borderline limit of 200 mg/dL to 239mg/dL. You are at risk of developing heart disease if you have a total of 240mg/dL and above cholesterol reading.

LDL Cholesterol Levels

Low density lipoprotein is more commonly known as the "bad" cholesterol. At high levels it may cause deposits in the walls of the arteries which increases the risk of heart disease. The desirable LDL cholesterol level is below 200 milligrams per deciliter of blood or 200 mg/dL. The borderline limit of LDL is between 200-239mg/dL. It is dangerous if you have a LDL cholesterol level of above 240mg/dL.

HDL Cholesterol Levels

High density lipoprotein is the "good" cholesterol. High density lipoprotein washes away excess cholesterol from the tissues to the liver. The liver then breaks it down and it becomes part of the bile for removal. An HDL level of 40mg/dL is suggested. You must maintain your HDL level within 40mg/dL to 45mg/dL. It should not go below 40mg/dL. Levels above 60mg/dL are said to protect the heart and is beneficial to brain functions because it protects the cerebral blood vessels as well as coronary vessels.

Level of Triglycerides

Triglycerides are another type of fat. It is accumulated as fat in our body that flows in the blood stream. Almost all of the fats in our diet are triglycerides. Triglycerides are one of the main factors of heart disease. At high levels, it thickens the blood and may possibly lead to heart attack or stroke due to blood clotting. It is best that you maintain your triglyceride level at 150 or below with a borderline limit of 150 to 199. It should not exceed 200.

In maintaining your cholesterol level, remember, there are no ideal cholesterol readings per se. They vary for each person. It will depend on the individual’s risk factor (family history, sex, health condition and age.). Though experts suggest that having a total of over 240mg/dL is an indication that a lifestyle change is needed, because having higher than this increases the risk of developing heart problems.

National guidelines recommended that those who have a high blood cholesterol level should be checked every 1 or 2 years.

Understanding Cholesterol Numbers

Today, one of the most useful tests an adult can take is the cholesterol test. The results of this test can indicate a possible problem when taken in conjunction with other risk factors. The usual cholesterol test is the lipoprotein profile. Cholesterol is made in your body by your liver.

It is a fatty substance that combines with protein and travels in bile into the intestine where it is absorbed and enters the bloodstream to help build and maintain cells, make hormones and strengthens nerves. At least that’s what good cholesterol does. Bad cholesterol builds plaque in the arteries constricting blood flow and causes heart disease and heart attacks.

Reading The Results

The results of the test show cholesterol numbers for low density lipoprotein (LDL), high density protein (HDL) and triglycerides as well as the total of all cholesterol. LDL is bad cholesterol. The density is the ratio of fatty cholesterol to protein.

Low density means that the ratio of protein is low and the cholesterol is high in fat. HDL, of course is the good cholesterol with high protein ratios. Triglycerides are fats traveling in the blood. Extra calories, alcohol and sugar convert to triglycerides and are stored in fat cells. Only the HDL is good for you.

The best LDL numbers are below 100 but 100 to 129 is good. Borderline high is 130 to 159. High LDL is 160-189 and over 190 are very high. If you have risk factors like existing heart or blood vessel disease, doctors believe that your LDL cholesterol numbers should be below 70. Less dangerous risk factors like diabetes allow LDL cholesterol numbers up to almost 100.

HDL cholesterol actually helps keep bad cholesterol down and cleans out artery clogs, so the higher, the better. If HDL cholesterol numbers are below 40 for men or 50 for women, it is considered too low and constitutes a risk factor. Your best HDL cholesterol numbers are above 60.

High triglyceride levels are a predictor for possible coronary artery disease. Normal levels are less than 150; borderline high is 150 to 199. They are high at 200 to 4999 and very high if 500 or over. Total cholesterol numbers should be below 200. If you have total cholesterol numbers from 200 to 239 you are border line high and at 240 or above you are at an extremely high risk. Together with your doctor, you can discuss how your cholesterol numbers fit with your personal risk factors and the results of other tests from a physical examination.

Making Sense of Your Cholesterol Reading

If you are older than 20, then your doctor has probably already taken a cholesterol test as part of a physical exam. You have probably already had your cholesterol reading explained to you and, if necessary, have discussed any necessary changes to your lifestyle outlined. By now, you should understand how your cholesterol reading impacts your life. Where do you go from here? You learn as much as you can about cholesterol.

Cholesterol Numbers

Your cholesterol reading should have LDL levels under 100 for the best results and below 130 for good results. LDL is the bad cholesterol and you have to keep that number low. If your cholesterol reading shows LDL of 130 or above, your doctor has very likely suggested an improvement in diet or exercise.

Your cholesterol reading should have HDL levels above 60. HDL is the good cholesterol and you have to keep that number high. If you are a man and your HDL is below 40 – 50 for a woman – then your doctor has suggested ways to improve it. Your cholesterol reading for triglycerides should be under 150. Triglycerides are fats from excess calories, alcohol or sugar. They travel through your blood and can cause coronary artery disease. Your cholesterol reading should be below 200.

If you need to improve your cholesterol reading, you should be aware of the common misconceptions about cholesterol. It is important to avoid saturated fats and trans fats. There are butter substitutes that have very low levels of these kinds of fats, but most margarine isn’t among them. Look for specially labeled spreads but use all fats sparingly. Being overweight sometimes indicates high cholestrol.

That doesn’t mean however that thin people are safe from it. It really can be about the metabolism. If you are thin but eat cholesterol-rich foods or have a hereditary predisposition to high cholesterol, you will be much better off getting a test and knowing for sure.

Just because your doctor hasn’t mentioned high cholesterol, don’t assume you’re safe. Get tested and find out what your cholesterol reading means. If you think your doctor isn’t being proactive enough, double check the information on the Internet. To be on the safe side, adopt a low fat diet and exercise regularly. Don’t smoke. The label may say “low-cholesterol” but check the nutrition label too. Avoid saturated and trans fats.

Be sure to check the serving size. If it is half or a quarter the size you thought it was, remember to multiply calories and fat grams by that number to get a realistic idea. Some people believe that cholesterol isn’t a problem if you are taking cholesterol medication, if you are a woman or if you are young. All of those beliefs are wrong. The best thing you can do is find out the facts, take the test and understand your cholesterol reading.

How Reliable Are the Results of a Home Cholesterol Test?

The results produced by a Home cholesterol test kit like the results of many other types of home testing kits are not always accurate. The problem is usually in the application and not in the kit itself. Although the home cholesterol test has the potential to provide accurate results it often doesn't do so because it is amministered incorrectly. Also, mistakes occur when the test is taken at the wrong time. Ironically however, the home cholesterol test can actually give accurate results if done properly.

How good is the Home Cholesterol Testing Kit?

If you go to a doctor with the results of a home cholesterol test he is more than likely going to ask you to take another test and this time from the lab. They will not usually rely on a home cholesterol test because of the likelihood of administration errors. Only when the lab tests results come will they proceed with the treatment. It is not surprising that doctors generally don't trust the results the home cholesterol test despite the test itself being accurate. Obviously it is important that your treatment starts with the right cholesterol readings.

Doctors do want to take a chance because it might so happen that someone ends up taking cholesterol medication and he never even had cholesterol problems in the first place. This is why doctors usually do not take into consideration the results of any home kit when it comes to serious afflictions like high cholesterol, diabetes, etc.

However, if you have a home physician who is willing to carry out the home cholesterol test on your behalf then the test can be safely and accurately carried out at home. This makes sense because even after the test is done you would need a doctor to interpret the results anyway. That is why you might as well take a lab test rather than a home cholesterol test in the first place. The latter would only be useful when there is a doctor close by who can guide in administering it as well as in reading the results correctly.

So, even if you have taken a home cholesterol test be prepared for the test to be repeated in a lab. This way, if your home test results are wrong, you will know before you have to undergo any treatment and so avoid the treatment being based on wrong premise.

You can use a home cholesterol test kit as often as you like, especially if you suffer from a high cholesterol problem, but remember, in order to get accurate results you need to follow the instructions exactly as they written on the packet. Then confirm the report from a lab before taking medication. Never take the results of a home cholesterol test report as final.