Boston: Is Using a Cholesterol Tester a Brilliant Idea?

Boston,

One interesting aspect about living in the modern world is that you have practically everything at your finger tips. You can have test kits for all sorts of conditions that a trip to the doctor’s is deemed unnecessary. You used to have pregnancy, urinary track infection, blood sugar tester and so on. Now you can even test your cholesterol level using a cholesterol tester in the convenience of your own home!

First, why is cholesterol testing important? Well, knowing your cholesterol, more specifically, your bad cholesterol level is important because it helps in preventing a possible stroke or a heart attack. Although this is not really the cure for such conditions, knowing your lipid profile (blood cholesterol and sugar) may prevent future problems.

For instance, if you look at your results and find that your ldl is high then you have to take actions. Ldl or bad cholesterol may clog your heart’s arteries. This may eventually lead to a stroke or a heart attack. This need not happen if you take preventive measures to lower it and therefore lessen the possibility of any cardiovascular problem.

Now, the answer to the question of whether it is a good idea to use a cholesterol tester may vary from one person to another. Why would you want to test your cholesterol levels from home in the first place?

If your reason is that you want to save some money, then you probably could save some. That is if you have to spend a lot on transport to get to the doctor’s, and if you have to pay his professional fee.

Testing your cholesterol from home can also be very time efficient. Just one prick and there goes the little kit analyzing your specimen and in a couple of minutes the results are out. That is certainly a lot faster than going to the lab, filling out forms and paying the fees.

Although home kits for cholesterol testing may sound quite convenient, there are also a number of drawbacks that you have to consider. First, most of these kits only give you your total cholesterol reading whereas in the clinic your doctor checks the levels of your hdl (good cholesterol), ldl (bad cholesterol), the triglycerides (fat stored in your body for energy production), and glucose. Without all these information, it is impossible to assess the risk of heart disease.

Having said that, there are now new cholesterol testers that can give direct measurement of total & hdl cholesterol, triglycerides, and glucose.

Another disadvantage of doing the test on your own is that you will not be able to get your own blood pressure or sort your family history which is also necessary in estimating your heart disease risk. All these can be done in the convenience of your doctor’s clinic.

All in all, a cholesterol tester may be a great innovation but if you really want to make your testing foolproof, and you feel you need professional advice, it is still wise to see your doctor.

For more information and ideas, please visit us on the web at cholesterol tester.

Source by Vincent Siew

Is Using a Cholesterol Tester a Brilliant Idea?