You may not think of taking a cholesterol test unless instructed to by a GP or other medical professional. However, you can in fact take a home cholesterol test. This consists of buying a heart health test online, carrying it out at home (using instructional guidance), sending it off to a lab and receiving your personal heart health results.
You do not have to be instructed by your GP to check on your heart health, and you may wish to do so for many reasons. It can be extremely beneficial to your overall health in the long run.
What You Should Know About Cholesterol
Cholesterol is made of a fatty/waxy substance that runs through your blood. Our bodies need certain levels of this in order to build cells and hormones. This is known as ‘HDL cholesterol’, aka ‘good’ cholesterol.
However, if there is too much cholesterol in our bodies, it has the ability to block our arteries which can cause serious heart problems that can be life threatening. This is known as ‘LDL cholesterol’, aka ‘bad’ cholesterol.
Risks That Come with High LDL Cholesterol Levels
- Heart Attack
- Cardiovascular Disease
- Stroke
- Coronary Artery Disease
- Blood Clotting
Reasons You May Buy a Cholesterol Test
Anyone can be at risk of high cholesterol levels. This is regardless of age, fitness or diet. Unfortunately, high cholesterol can be genetic if members of your family suffer from heart problems.
High cholesterol is asymptomatic. If you happen to suffer from cholesterol issues, you will not be aware of this unless you take a heart health test (blood test).
You may wish to take an at home cholesterol test if:
- You have diabetes
- Poor heart health runs in your family
- You don’t have a balanced diet
- You are at risk of a heart attack
- You are curious about your cholesterol levels and want to take precaution
The Benefit of a Home Cholesterol Test
The main benefit you gain from the at home test, is it will give you a report of your results which will tell you your HDL and LDL cholesterol levels. From this, you will have an idea of your heart health.
If your results show you have high levels of LDL, you can implement lifestyle changes to lower this and start to change your daily habits that may be impacting the condition of your heart.
It is always a good idea to consult your doctor if any issues are raised from your home test report, they can give professional advice and medical guidance to ensure your levels are checked regularly to prevent any serious cardiovascular issues from arising.
Final Words
Taking a home cholesterol test is a quick, easy and effective way of seeing your heart health and what levels your ‘good’ and ‘bad’ cholesterols are at. It can give you the opportunity to implement healthy lifestyle choices into your routine to either lower or maintain your levels which will ultimately prevent the risk factors mentioned. Buy a home cholesterol test today and get an idea of your heart health.