How to Measure Cholesterol

There is a large body of research showing that high levels of cholesterol, in particular the type of cholesterol known as LDL (low-density lipoprotein), can increase a person's risk of heart disease and stroke. Doctors frequently opt to put patients with high levels of cholesterol on cholesterol-lowering medications called statins, although some can lower their cholesterol levels via diet and exercise. The only way to measure your cholesterol is by taking a blood test. Here are your options for how to get such a test.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Talk to your physician. Since cholesterol monitoring is so popular and widespread, your doctor will most likely be happy to order you a lab test to measure your cholesterol. Cholesterol testing does not require a fast, so all you will need to do is take the lab form from your doctor to a lab, have your blood drawn, and then wait for the results. This may be the optimal method of measuring cholesterol given that you can find out your HDL and LDL proportions.

2. Watch for a health fair in your area. Because simple cholesterol tests may be available that work by testing a drop of blood from a finger prick, it is sometimes possible to get an on-the-spot reading for free or for only a small fee. You will only be able to find out your overall cholesterol number and not the proportion of LDL versus HDL. You will still need to talk to a doctor if your results are outside the normal range.

3. Check with your employer. Some employers offer the aforementioned health fairs on occasion, and if yours does, your human resources coordinator may be able to give you further information.

4. Order a home cholesterol testing kits. Many companies offer direct-to-consumer testing for common tests (such as cholesterol levels) and you may be able to get results on the spot or send in a dried blood spot to a lab for analysis. The downside of home testing is that if your levels are high, you will still need to see a doctor for help in planning a cholesterol reduction strategy--and your doctor will probably want you to have a standard blood test to confirm the results and to get information on your LDL and HDL levels.

5. Be sure that you understand the information you are getting, regardless of which of the above options you choose to measure your cholesterol. The meaning of your overall cholesterol number can be dependent on the proportions of LDL versus HDL--sometimes even an average cholesterol level might be problematic if the LDL is too high in proportion to the HDL. It is always best to speak to a physician if you have concerns about your cholesterol level.

Tips & Warnings

• Regardless of your actual cholesterol level, it is always beneficial to eat a healthy diet and to get regular exercise.

Resources

• HDL and LDL cholesterol information

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