How to Monitor Cholesterol Readings at Home

Monitoring your cholesterol levels is a necessity to manage your total health. Some cholesterol in the body is necessary for it to be healthy and function properly. Cholesterol is found in your bloodstream as well as in most of your cells. It plays a role in producing cell membranes and some hormones, as well as supporting many other bodily functions. Having high cholesterol levels can lead to heart disease and stroke. You can have high levels of cholesterol and be at risk for health problems without having any signs or symptoms and that is why testing your levels is essential. While it is best to have your cholesterol levels checked by a physician there are ways to monitor it at home as well

Instructions

• 1

  Purchase the right machine
  When purchasing a machine for home use make sure it does not just test total cholesterol. You should be able to get a machine that gives you separate readings for LDL's (low density lipoproteins), HDL's (high density lipoproteins) and triglycerides. Make sure you buy a machine that has been approved for home use by the Food and Drug Administration.

• 2

  Perform the test
  You will need to prick your finger with a lancelet (similar to testing for diabetes). You then place a few drops of blood on a test strip. The test strip is then inserted into the machine. The results are usually ready in minutes and easy to read. Some machines can store readings so you can track your levels over time.

• 3

  Take Your Machine to the Doctor's Office
  According to the Harvard Medical School Family Health Guide there are home cholesterol testing machines that are approved for use by the Food and Drug Administration as being as accurate as a laboratory test, but only if the test is done properly. They also warn that the directions can sometimes be confusing to follow. For best results take the monitor to your doctors office so he or she can watch you use the machine.

• 4

  Interpret Your Total Cholesterol Levels
  Cholesterol levels are measured in milligrams (mg) of cholesterol per deciliter (dl) of blood. According to the American Heart Association if your total cholesterol is less than 200 mg/dl you are considered at low risk for heart disease. Borderline high is a reading between 200 to 239 mg/dl. A reading of 240 mg/dl and above indicates high blood cholesterol and puts you at double the risk of heart disease then those with healthy cholesterol levels.

• 5

  Understand the Individual Results
  If your HDL levels are less than 40 mg/dl for a man, and less than 50 mg/dl for a woman then you have a low level of the HDL or good cholesterol. This increases your risk for heart disease. An HDL reading of 60 mg/dl or over, means that you have some protection against heart disease. For LDL, (the bad cholesterol) you are considered to have a healthy level if the reading is 100 mg/dl or less. For triglycerides a level of less then 150 mg/dl is desirable.