Is a Home Cholesterol Triglyceride Test Helpful?Is a home cholesterol triglyceride test worth purchasing if you have high cholesterol that you are trying to monitor? Do they provide you with accurate, reliable results? If you are interested in these, you likely have been trying to make changes in your lifestyle that will help you reduce your cholesterol levels, and you’re anxious to see if they are working. High cholesterol is directly related to heart disease. The American Heart Association does not take a position on home cholesterol tests. They do, however, endorse the recommendations of the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP). In these guidelines, a triglyceride test is recommended if your overall cholesterol level is higher than 200 mg/dL (milligrams per deciliter) and your HDH (high density lipoprotein; the “good cholesterol”) level is below 40 for men or 50 for women. Following these guidelines, you are better off arming yourself with these numbers prior to purchasing a home cholesterol triglyceride test.
First, let’s understand what triglycerides are, since this is what a home cholesterol triglyceride test will measure. This is not what you typically hear from your doctor when he or she tells you what your cholesterol level is. Usually you will hear what your overall cholesterol level is, which should be below 200 mg/dL. Beyond that, you are often provided with your specific LDL and HDL levels, which further define how healthy your cholesterol level is. Triglycerides are blood fats. They are the chemical make-up of fat as it exists in foods and in your blood. While in and of itself it is not cholesterol, it works with cholesterol to elevate your risk for heart disease. Triglycerides are formed in your body when you process carbohydrates, and they also are eaten when you eat high-fat foods. When you eat foods that contain fats, and your body does not have an immediate need for the energy those fats provide, your body will turn the fat into triglycerides.
If you do purchase a home cholesterol triglyceride test, the result you will want to see is a triglyceride level below 150 mg/dL. According to the National Cholesterol Education Program, levels between:
Results from a home cholesterol triglyceride test that are above normal should motivate you to make some lifestyle changes to lower these numbers, and lower your risk for heart disease. Some changes you can make include lowering your overall calorie intake if you are overweight, but particularly lowering your consumption of saturated fats and trans fats. Incorporate fish into your diet to add more omega 3 fatty acids in as opposed to those fats in meat. Also, reduce the amount of alcohol you drink because even small amounts of alcohol negatively influence your triglyceride levels.
A home cholesterol triglyceride test can help you monitor your blood fat levels, but you will want to do so in conjunction with cholesterol level testing. If you are concerned about your triglycerides, you likely need to keep an eye on cholesterol as well. All in all, the best approach is to eat a sensible, heart-healthy diet, which will help with:
Just follow a proven plan such as the steps below to begin your journey to overcome your weight issues.
Make sure you keep an eye on your cholesterol. As you lose weight your cholesterol level should go down. Good luck with your journey.
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