Cholesterol - Cholesterol Test

Should You Get a Cholesterol Test

High cholesterol, like many other conditions is often rather not thought about. The saying out of sight out of mind fits nicely to this attitude because nobody seeks out bad news, which they may receive if they undergo a regular cholesterol test.

Nipping high cholesterol in the bud is essential if you want to avoid health complications like atherosclerosis, high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease. And the truth is that once you have been tested and found to have a high reading, it is quite easy to lower your cholesterol level.

Cholesterol tests can be done in two ways. You could purchase a home testing kit or you could get a blood test from your doctor or health practitioner.

A home testing kit is fairly inexpensive so it is often a first option if you feel that you might have high cholesterol. The kit comes with a lancet to draw a drop of blood from your finger and a blood test strip. Once you have pricked your finger with the lancet a small drop of blood will form. Place the blood onto the test strip and place it into the reading meter. After a few minutes the meter will return a color. This color will correspond to one of the colors in a chart that is also supplied with the kit. The Chart indicates levels of cholesterol in the blood. If you are in the high category you should consult a doctor to get a proper blood test and advice on lowering the cholesterol level.

The most thorough method of testing your cholesterol is to get your doctor to take a proper analysis of your blood. Occasionally, cholesterol screening days will be held at doctors surgeries or hospitals so you can just walk in without making an appointment. The test is quick and relatively painless and is the best way to determine whether or not you have high cholesterol that should be taken care of.

It makes sense to check your cholesterol, especially if you have already had a high reading. Home testing kits are the most convenient way to do this. They can test your cholesterol and give you peace of mind that everything is ok without having to make a doctors appointment.

	Beware cholesterol drugs for kids, journal warns doctors (Canada.com) Thu, 04 Dec 2008 22:29:23 GMT Canada’s top medical journal is warning doctors about giving cholesterol pills to children, saying there’s scant direct evidence statins are safe for children and that doctors risk committing kids to “decades of therapy.”
	Good news and bad on cholesterol levels (Canada.com) Thu, 04 Dec 2008 23:05:22 GMT Levels of "bad" LDL cholesterol among adult Americans have fallen somewhat since 1980. However, harmful triglyceride levels have nearly quintupled over the same time period, according to research presented at the American Heart Association's annual meeting.
	Maintain cholesterol for a healthy heart (The Times of Northwest Indiana) Thu, 04 Dec 2008 07:48:50 GMT Most people have heard about it, read about it, know someone who is at risk or even has it n “It” is high cholesterol and it can lead to stroke, heart attack and/or heart disease. The latest statistics show that heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, claiming nearly 500,000 lives each year.
	Yeast studies provide clue about controlling cholesterol levels (New Kerala) Thu, 04 Dec 2008 11:35:11 GMT Washington, December 3 : Johns Hopkins researchers say that they have gained significant insights into the mechanism whereby a single-celled fungus regulates its version of cholesterol.
	Vegetarian 'fungus food' used in Quorn lowers cholesterol (Daily Telegraph) Thu, 04 Dec 2008 06:32:33 GMT A "superfood" used in vegetarian meals including Quorn has been shown to help lower cholesterol.