How To Check Cholesterol At Home: A Simple, Inexpensive Way

Summary:

• At-home cholesterol tests are kits that allow individuals to test their cholesterol levels in the comfort of their own home.
• At-home cholesterol tests may not be as accurate as tests performed by a healthcare provider, but they can provide a general idea of a person's cholesterol levels and can help identify whether further testing is needed.
• Not all cholesterol is bad for your health. It depends on the type of cholesterol and their levels.

About 94 million American adults have cholesterol levels above 200 mg/dL. Unfortunately, many people with high cholesterol don't know they have it.¹

High cholesterol doesn't produce any symptoms. An at-home cholesterol test is a convenient and effective way to check your cholesterol.

Why Is High Cholesterol Bad For You?

Not all cholesterol is bad for your health. It depends on the type of cholesterol and their levels. There are two kinds of cholesterol:

• High-density lipoproteins (HDL) — the 'good' cholesterol that carries 'bad' cholesterol from different parts of your body to the liver. The liver then removes them from your body.
• Low-density lipoproteins (LDL) — the 'bad' cholesterol that builds up in the bloodstream.

HDL cholesterol is good for you. It lowers your risk for heart disease and stroke.²

Consequently, high levels of LDL cholesterol is bad for your health. It builds up on the walls of your arteries and forms into plaque.³

Plaque narrows and hardens the arteries. It decreases blood flow to the heart muscle, leading to angina. Sometimes, plaque can dislodge and completely block blood flow to your heart. This can cause a heart attack or stroke.

Plaque can also impair blood flow to the brain. It can lead to a stroke or a transient ischemic attack (sometimes called a mini-stroke).⁴

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How Do You Know If You Have High Cholesterol?

High cholesterol is when you have a total cholesterol of 240 mg/dL or higher.

Ideally, it should be less than 200 mg/dL. Although a total cholesterol of 200 to 239 mg/dL is unhealthy.⁵

Doctors will not only look at your total cholesterol. They will also check your HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides to better assess your health.

Triglycerides are the stored fats in your body. They can affect your HDL, LDL, and total cholesterol levels.

In the past, the only way to measure your cholesterol was with a blood test. Now, there are at-home cholesterol tests.

Here is what high cholesterol levels will look like when you take thee tests:

High HDL Cholesterol Levels

• 40 to 59 mg/dL — ideal range for men
• 50 to 59 mg/dL — ideal range for women
• 60 mg/dL or higher — best for men and women

Keep in mind that having high HDL levels is good for your health. HDL cholesterol that falls below this range is unhealthy.

High LDL Cholesterol Levels

An LDL cholesterol between 100 to 129 mg/dL is considered high if you have:

• Coronary artery disease (CAD)
• History of heart attacks or angina
• Underwent coronary bypass surgery and stents
• Diabetes

In healthy individuals, high LDL cholesterol is over 160 mg/dL. However, having an LDL cholesterol between 130 to 150 mg/dL is also considered unhealthy.

High Triglyceride Levels

Triglycerides should fall below 150 mg/dL. Anything between 150 to 199 mg/dL is unhealthy. Once it reaches over 200 mg/dL you have high triglycerides.

Should I Take An At-Home Cholesterol Test?

Unless your doctor has recently tested your cholesterol and your results were good, you might want to consider an at-home cholesterol test. These tests:

• Give you a general assessment of your cholesterol levels
• Tell you if recent lifestyle changes have improved your cholesterol

If cholesterol is a problem for you, at-home testing is an affordable way to monitor your levels. It's also an excellent tool for tracking changes as you make adjustments to your diet.

There are three different types of at-home cholesterol tests:

• Cholesterol tests with meters — offers digital results that are similar to what you get from a blood glucose meter.
• Cholesterol tests without meters — includes test strips and lancets for finger pricking. You get results within a minute or two.
• Mail-in tests — requires you to send your blood sample to a lab for assessment. They provide you with results online or by phone.

Things to Consider About At-Home Cholesterol Tests

According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), many at-home tests are accurate and a great tool for managing and monitoring your cholesterol. But they should never replace a professional medical assessment.

Accuracy

The accuracy of these tests tends to vary across brands. Ask your doctor for recommended brands.

Results

At-home tests may not provide comprehensive results. Many test for total cholesterol. However, they don't check your LDL and HDL cholesterol.

Your total cholesterol may be within the normal range. But your HDL and LDL may be too low or high, which are bad for your health.

Reading and Interpreting Results

Cholesterol tests that lack meters do not give you measurable results. You should only use mail-in cholesterol kits and tests that have meters, so you can read the results.

Of course, your test results are best interpreted by a medical professional. But if you simply want to monitor your cholesterol levels, they are great tools to have at home.

Best At-Home Cholesterol Tests

There are several reliable at-home test kits, including: 

1. LetsGetChecked Cholesterol Test - Our Top Pick

Key Features:

• Measures your total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and HDL percentage of total cholesterol
• Uses blood sample with finger prick collection for better accuracy
• Analyzes samples in the same laboratories as hospitals
• Get your results in 2 to 5 days
• Includes medication for high LDL cholesterol

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2. EverlyWell Cholesterol & Lipids Test

Key Features:

• Measures your total cholesterol, calculated LDL, HDL, and Triglyceride levels
• Allows the user to gain meaningful insights about their health through easy-to-understand results
• Includes additional insight into your heart health
• Easy to use
• Experts analyze and interpret results
• Makes use of blood sample obtained through finger prick collection into a test strip
• Works with CLIA-certified laboratories

3. CardioChek Home Cholesterol Test System

Key Features:

• A two-button function for ease of use
• Fits the palm for portability
• Features a large digital readout
• Accurate; trusted by physicians for health and wellness programs
• Provides information on HDL, total cholesterol, and triglycerides
• Fast; results in as little as 45 seconds
• Starter kit comes with the following: electronic analyzer, 3 triglyceride test strips, 3 HDL test strips, 3 total cholesterol test strips, and 9 lancets
• Programmable in nine languages: English, Chinese, Dutch, Italian, French, German, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish (not all languages are available in all locations)

4. Solana Health Best Home Cholesterol Test

Key Features:

• FDA-approved, 3-step cholesterol test
• Measures LDL, HDL, and triglyceride levels
• All-in-one kit contains: 2 finger stick devices, 2 bandages, 1 gauze pad, 1 direction brochure, 1 blood collection card, and 1 postage paid sample envelope
• Has a high rate of consistency in terms of lab results vs. doctor’s reports

5. Curo L5 Blood Cholesterol Test Kit

Key Features:

• Measures total cholesterol, HDL, and triglycerides
• Comes with a portable storage pouch for on-the-go testing
• Fast, instant results in 2 minutes with accurate results
• Includes: Curo L5 Device, 10 total cholesterol test strips, 20 capillary rods, 10 lancets, lancing pen, storage pouch, 2 AAA batteries, user manual

6. SELFCheck Cholesterol Test Kit

Key Features:

• Measures total cholesterol, HDL, and triglycerides
• Comes with a portable storage pouch for on-the-go testing
• Fast, instant results in 2 minutes with accurate results
• Includes: Curo L5 Device, 10 total cholesterol test strips, 20 capillary rods, 10 lancets, lancing pen, storage pouch, 2 AAA batteries, user manual
• Budget-friendly

Choosing an At-Home Cholesterol Test

Remember, even if you have high cholesterol, it doesn’t need to stay that way. Healthy diet and exercise can reduce your cholesterol levels and health risks.

An at-home cholesterol test allows you to closely monitor your levels at home. It can help you determine if your lifestyle changes are lowering your cholesterol.

If you aren't sure of which test to choose, look for a kit that's approved by the FDA. It must also provide measurable results, so it's easier to read.

Talk to your doctor if you still aren't sure which at-home cholesterol test is right for you.

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