Cholesterol Monitor - Using Home Cholesterol Testers
Although cholesterol provides a vital role in maintaining the condition of the body's cells it becomes a problem when there is too much of it in our systems.
Excess cholesterol leads to thickening of the arteries and cardiovascular disease.
By taking readings using home cholesterol testers you can effectively monitor your condition.
This article will discuss home test kits including disposable kits and cholesterol monitors.
Cholesterol test kits fall into two categories.
The first is a disposable one off tester.
This is useful if you are curious about your cholesterol level.
It works by taking a sample of your blood from a finger.
Place the sample onto a test strip and put it into the diagnostic component.
The diagnosis is given by color.
For example if the diagnostic component turns red it means your cholesterol is high.
If it is green then your level is fine.
As you can imagine, this is not the most accurate method of giving a cholesterol reading but indicates if you should take the process further.
If you have a red color then you would be advised to see your Doctor for a proper blood test.
This will give an accurate reading.
You can then formulate an action plan to lower cholesterol in your body.
If you have been diagnosed with high cholesterol then you may be advised to get a cholesterol monitor.
The monitor is similar to the one off test kit in that you take a drop of blood and place it on a test strip.
However the monitor is supposed to be as accurate as a proper blood test in measuring cholesterol and is a more dependable reading than a one off kit.
Most monitors will give a total cholestrol reading.
This means it lumps LDL and HDL cholestrol together even though HDL cholesterol is good for you.
The National Cholesterol Education program recommends that a normal cholesterol reading should be 200 mg/dl.
A cholesterol monitor is useful for the following reasons : It can give you an instant reading.
This can help you evaluate whether your medication, diet or exercise program is working.
It can also keep you motivated and disciplined to continue with the exercise or the celery stick snacks because you see the evidence that they are helping.
It can track you cholesterol reading over a number of months so that you can modify parts of your treatment that may not be working.
You can give your doctor the data so that he/she can be better informed of your condition.
There is a once off cost for a monitor and a yearly expense for testing strips but it is money well spent for the information that you will gain from using the cholesterol monitor.
With this information you can ensure that your treatment for high cholesterol is working and will reduce the chances of heart disease and atherosclerosis.
Excess cholesterol leads to thickening of the arteries and cardiovascular disease.
By taking readings using home cholesterol testers you can effectively monitor your condition.
This article will discuss home test kits including disposable kits and cholesterol monitors.
Cholesterol test kits fall into two categories.
The first is a disposable one off tester.
This is useful if you are curious about your cholesterol level.
It works by taking a sample of your blood from a finger.
Place the sample onto a test strip and put it into the diagnostic component.
The diagnosis is given by color.
For example if the diagnostic component turns red it means your cholesterol is high.
If it is green then your level is fine.
As you can imagine, this is not the most accurate method of giving a cholesterol reading but indicates if you should take the process further.
If you have a red color then you would be advised to see your Doctor for a proper blood test.
This will give an accurate reading.
You can then formulate an action plan to lower cholesterol in your body.
If you have been diagnosed with high cholesterol then you may be advised to get a cholesterol monitor.
The monitor is similar to the one off test kit in that you take a drop of blood and place it on a test strip.
However the monitor is supposed to be as accurate as a proper blood test in measuring cholesterol and is a more dependable reading than a one off kit.
Most monitors will give a total cholestrol reading.
This means it lumps LDL and HDL cholestrol together even though HDL cholesterol is good for you.
The National Cholesterol Education program recommends that a normal cholesterol reading should be 200 mg/dl.
A cholesterol monitor is useful for the following reasons : It can give you an instant reading.
This can help you evaluate whether your medication, diet or exercise program is working.
It can also keep you motivated and disciplined to continue with the exercise or the celery stick snacks because you see the evidence that they are helping.
It can track you cholesterol reading over a number of months so that you can modify parts of your treatment that may not be working.
You can give your doctor the data so that he/she can be better informed of your condition.
There is a once off cost for a monitor and a yearly expense for testing strips but it is money well spent for the information that you will gain from using the cholesterol monitor.
With this information you can ensure that your treatment for high cholesterol is working and will reduce the chances of heart disease and atherosclerosis.
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