Why measure cholesterol?
When cholesterol levels are too high, it can accumulate or form deposits in the arteries. The deposits may narrow the arteries, increasing the risk of a heart attack or stroke, which are the two leading causes of death. In the United States, it is a well-known source of death.
Knowing one's cholesterol level can help an individual keep control of their health. If their cholesterol level is too high, certain lifestyle changes may help bring it down to a healthy level.
How are cholesterol levels measured in home kits?
Home cholesterol kits include a variety of options for measuring cholesterol levels at home.
The test kits include the tools and instructions needed to collect a blood sample.
Some home cholesterol tests measure only total cholesterol levels. This is a person's total cholesterol level in their blood.
Other at-home tests measure total cholesterol as well as the following:
Low-density lipoproteins (LDL):Doctors refer to this as "bad" cholesterol.
High-density lipoproteins (HDL):Doctors refer to this as "good" cholesterol.
Triglycerides:These are fats in the bloodstream that provide energy to the body. Triglyceride levels that are too high can increase a person's risk of having a heart attack or having a stroke.
How to Apply
The following are typical instructions for self-collection cholesterol kits using a meter:
pricking a finger with the provided lancet to draw a drop of blood, transferring the blood to a test strip, and inserting the test strip into the provided meter to measure cholesterol levels.
What do the findings imply?
It is critical for someone to understand their cholesterol levels in order to make necessary lifestyle changes to achieve a healthy range. Numbers that are higher than the desired level may indicate a higher risk of cardiovascular disease.
Other risk factors, such as smoking and being overweight, influence a person's risk of cardiovascular disease.
Conclusion
Home cholesterol kits make it possible for people to check their cholesterol levels at home. A small blood sample is obtained by pricking a finger with a testing kit. Individuals can either mail the sample to a lab for testing or insert the testing strip and blood sample into a meter at home to obtain results.
https://www.yicare-medical.com/poct/cholesterol-poct.html