A Guide To Measuring Your Cholesterol And Knowing Whether Or Not It Is Too High

High cholesterol is a major factor in cardiovascular disease

, so it is normal for people to want to monitor their cholesterol levels. Of course, monitoring cholesterol levels involves actually measuring your cholesterol, a task that many people are unsure how to complete.

The following is a basic guide to measuring your cholesterol and knowing whether or not it is too high.

Measuring Your Cholesterol

The first step in knowing whether your cholesterol level is too high is to actually measure your cholesterol. Cholesterol levels are determined through testing a blood sample. Experts recommend that anyone over the age of 20 have a fasting lipoprotein profile every five years.

This test is done after nine to twelve hours of fasting, and the profile provides total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and triglycerides. At a minimum, total cholesterol and HDL cholesterol need to be measured.

If you are interested in measuring your cholesterol, there are several options available.

1/ Your physician

Talk to your physician about measuring your cholesterol. He or she will usually be happy to make arrangements for you to have the necessary blood samples drawn and measured. In addition, results are delivered directly to your physician, so he or she can interpret your measurements and make appropriate recommendations.

2/ Public screenings

Typically, public screenings are either worksite screenings, which are conducted for employees at a specific worksite, or community screenings, which are often held at churches, schools and community centers. Both types of public screenings are usually free or low cost, and they are conducted by qualified staff that follows the recommended screening guidelines. Such screenings also have knowledgeable staff present to answer questions and provide more information regarding cholesterol.

3/ Home testing devices

There are several home cholesterol testing devices available, and different types measure different things. Some measure only total cholesterol, while others measure total cholesterol and total HDL cholesterol. Before using a home testing device, however, be sure to check with your doctor. Not all home testing devices are accurate, and it does not save any time or money if the results are not usable.

Is Your Cholesterol Too High?

A lipoprotein panel measures total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and triglycerides. Total cholesterol is desirable if it is under 200, while over 240 is considered too high. A desirable LDL cholesterol level is under 100, while over 160 is considered high. Total HDL cholesterol should be over 45 for men and over 55 for women.

Finally, triglycerides need to be less than 150. If any of your levels are higher than desirable, but lower than what is considered too high, then you are in the borderline range. Your doctor may suggest lifestyle changes to help bring borderline levels back into the desirable range.

Typically, it is faster and easier to consult your doctor about measuring your cholesterol level and determining whether or not it is too high. When using home testing devices or going to public screenings, make sure your doctor receives a copy of your results.

by: Stuart Brown

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