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Cholesterol Blood Test Questions Answered

April 6th, 2008    Subscribe To Our Feed

Answering:

When should I undergo a cholesterol blood test?
What would the results say about my health?
How many tests are there and which will give me the best results?

Unlike any other health tests, a cholesterol blood test does not diagnose a patient with a specific disease. Instead, the results refer more to the risks of developing a disease, namely, heart disease. A test is considered necessary in preventive health care because a high cholesterol results in accumulations of on the walls of the arteries which suppresses the blood flow and can later bring about heart attacks or strokes.

A cholesterol blood test is advised for all individuals who are over 20 years old. It is also recommended that they go through this test once every five years from thereon. However, for patients who have been given medications and strict diet, these tests are being done several times in one year.

Cholesterol tests look at the levels of HDL, LDL, and triglycerides. These tests are also known as the lipoprotein profile. However, experts suggest that when you have a cholesterol test you should always include the direct measured LDL. Other tests may not be as precise as this method, although this test is often more expensive. Bear in mind, when considering the results that stress or acute illness can affect the numbers you receive. This is because the blood cholesterol level is temporarily low at these instances. A Cholesterol test should be done at least 6 weeks after any stressful time or illness or when a person is healthy, to obtain the most reliable result.

Some people believe that eating prior to getting a cholesterol blood test will have an impact on the triglyceride level which is a component of the total blood cholesterol number. An increase in the triglyceride level increases the total blood cholesterol number, thus your results will tell you that you have a higher risk of developing a heart disease. However, most experts say it is not necessary to fast just before a test. They say that a single meal does not influence the cholesterol level although long term eating habits do.

Cholesterol Monitor

October 18th, 2007    Subscribe To Our Feed

Cholesterol Monitoring Devices

The importance of knowing your cholesterol levels cannot be overestimated. For someone with normal levels and no additional predictive factors pointing to a danger of high cholesterol, the few tests recommened by doctors should be sufficient. For someone 20 years or older, a test every 5 years is the suggested frequency, until the results start showing high cholesterol.

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If you have high levels and a condition that adds to the problem like diabetes or the need to take medication that raises cholesterol, more frequent tests are advised. If your cholesterol cannot be controlled by diet and exercise you are taking medication, you might want a more personal kind of cholesterol monitor.

Cholesterol Testing at Home

With the success of diabetes home monitoring, medical science has been developing cholesterol tests that can be administered at home to keep track of progress using a special monitor. Cholesterol levels can fluctuate on a daily basis. For those within the normal range, this isn’t a problem.

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When your cholesterol levels are regularly at levels that can be dangerous, it can be important to monitor changes so that you can see what is working and what isn’t in your treatment regimen.

For several years instruments like the home cholesterol monitor have been delivering reliable results using a drop of blood. The test takes just a few minutes and many of the devices will keep track of the time and date of the test and store the results. Such a tool can be helpful when a patient is trying a new regimen.

Improvements can be measured as exercise is increased or diet improved. As results become better, a patient may find encouragement between doctor’s visits and keep up the good work. This alone can be very important since beginning a diet and exercise program is demanding and high cholesterol can cause depression.

Several types of cholesterol monitor are miniature computers. This allows different kinds of information to be available. A device may be able to assess current readings in conjunction with other risk factors such as smoking. While the FDA accepts the accuracy of the new types of home cholesterol monitor, some insurance companies don’t accept the need for frequent testing and don’t cover the cost of the devices and their test strips.

The need for such tests can be determined by doctors on a case by case basis. If nothing else, they help a patient participate more fully in controlling the situation.

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The information on this site is provided for educational and informational purposes only, and does not constitute professional medical advice, examination, diagnosis or treatment. If you have questions or concerns about your health you should seek the advice of an appropriately qualified and licensed physician or other health care provider. Do not start new or change existing treatment without such professisonal advice.