Do you have reasons to be concerned about your cholesterol levels? Whether high cholesterol runs in your family or you’ve tested high at the doctor’s office, it’s something that deserves a watchful eye. The convenience of at-home test kits makes it ridiculously easy to monitor yourself and catch potential dangers before they become a greater problem.
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Does CVS sell cholesterol test kits? Can you get them at your local CVS or do you have to order them online?
CVS stocks a small selection of cholesterol test kits that can easily be used at home. These kits are available in-store, but they can be shipped if you don’t have a CVS nearby, or if you simply prefer the convenience of having the kit delivered. Shipping typically takes one to four days, so you won’t have long to wait either way.
Are they FDA approved?
Most home cholesterol test kits are FDA approved to detect possible health risks so that you can see your doctor for treatment and lower the risk of developing future complications that cholesterol might cause. The information on a particular kit should say that it is FDA approved; if you have doubts, check with a pharmacist about the kit.
What home cholesterol test kits are accurate?
Accuracy depends upon individual test kits, as well as accurately following the instructions provided. The best way to find a reliable and accurate kit is by asking your doctor or pharmacist which they trust most.
Also be certain to check the reviews on test kits before buying one. Reviews are an excellent gauge for kits that might have gone down in quality or present other difficulties for first time users.
Do they measure HDL and LDL?
Unfortunately, not all at-home cholesterol tests are made equally. Some check only for total cholesterol. If you need a test that checks HDL and LDL individually, be certain to choose one that specifies it checks each rather than measuring them together.
If you have any doubts about the test you choose, consult your pharmacist to make certain.
How often should cholesterol be checked?
The American Heart Association’s recommendation is that adults age 20 or older have their cholesterol checked every four to six years. After age 40, the frequency of testing should increase to once a year.
If your family history involves high cholesterol or diseases that can be influenced by cholesterol problems, your doctor may recommend keeping a closer eye on it before age 40.
How much does a cholesterol blood test cost?
This depends wholly on which variety of test you choose. There are a number of home testing kits that retail under $20, though you can find them as expensive as $150 and beyond. Remember that cost doesn’t necessarily reflect how trustworthy a test is, however.
Can you get your cholesterol checked at a pharmacy?
Many pharmacies, including CVS and Walgreens, are now offering in-store cholesterol checks. It’s quick and easy, and some people do prefer pharmacy checks to doing it at home.
They are great for anyone who doesn’t feel comfortable doing a cholesterol test at home themselves, or who might be a bit squeamish when it comes to drawing their own blood.
What is the best drink to lower cholesterol?
There are a few drinks that present evidence of helping to lower cholesterol, though the effects are by no means immediate. Green tea, pomegranate juice, tart cherry juice, cranberry juice, and citrus juices have all been shown to affect HDL and/or LDL in healthy ways.
Keep in mind that the effects only show over time. One exception, however, is alcohol, which can have quicker and negative effects on cholesterol tests.
Can one meal affect a cholesterol test?
While cholesterol readings change extremely slowly in response to food and drink, it could conceivably affect test outcome. It is for this reason that doctors often ask their patients to fast before coming into the office.
This is easily done for a test at home. Just fast between dinner and waking the next morning, and perform your test first thing.
How can I check my cholesterol without a blood test?
There is now a method for checking cholesterol based on the amount that accumulates in your skin. In the non-invasive procedure, an applicator pad is placed on the palm of the hand and a spectrophotometer is used to read the reaction color. Results are accurate across ethnicities.
The current high price of the equipment necessary for reading results, however, make this a test still performed mostly in doctor’s offices.
What is a healthy cholesterol level by age?
In general, for those who are age 19 and under, HDL should read more than 45 mg/dL and LDL should read less than 100 mg/dL. In men age 20 and over, HDL should read more than 40 mg/dL and LDL should read less than 100 mg/dL.
For women age 20 and over, HDL should read more more than 50 mg/dL and LDL should read less than 100 mg/dL.
Can I test my triglycerides at home?
Many at-home cholesterol tests also provide readings for triglyceride levels along wit HDL and LDL. When considering any particular testing kit, simply check to be certain that the packaging specifies that it tests triglycerides as well.
How much is a cholesterol test at Walgreens?
At Walgreens, the ADA CheckUp America Cholesterol Panel kit, brought to the market by the American Diabetes Association, retails for around $40. With its easy instructions, you can perform your test in only four steps, with one finger stick for all four readings: total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, and triglycerides. The kit does require mailing in, but postage and lab services are included in the upfront cost.
What can cause a false high cholesterol reading?
Eating or drinking anything other than water – including tea, coffee, or soft drinks – before performing a cholesterol test can cause your results to read higher than they really are. Anything consumed within 10 to 12 hours of your test runs the risk of affecting your blood cholesterol.
Food and drinks carry the possibility of raising your LDL artificially, giving a false high reading. According to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, some medications can raise cholesterol levels, as well.
These include corticosteroids, anabolic steroids, beta-blockers, adrenocorticotropic hormones, sulfonamides, phenytoin, vitamin D, some diuretics, and estrogen, including birth control pills and hormone replacement therapy (HRT).
How do I prepare for a cholesterol test?
When having tests done on your cholesterol at your doctor’s office, they sometimes initially perform a non-fasting test. In this event, the lab typically only looks at the total cholesterol level. All you need to do is show up, no preparation necessary. When the results come in, depending on what they reveal, your doctor may ask you to then have a more extensive fasting test done.
A fasting cholesterol test requires you to fast for 10 to 12 hours before your blood is drawn to obtain a more accurate reading of HDL, LDL, triglycerides, and total cholesterol levels. When using an at-home test kit, a fasting test is typically the best idea to get the most accurate results.
The Top home cholesterol test kit on Amazon
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In the youtube video above they favorably review the CardioCheck home kit.
The Cardiocheck home kit will test your total cholesterol, HDL, and triglycerides. It’s expensive but they found it to be pretty close to the lab results.
Another option is the FDA approved Complete Lipid Panel Home Cholesterol Test Kit. This home test kit provides information on LDL, HDL, and triglycerides individually with only three drops of blood.
A lab-processed test, this is not a quick result kit that provides instant readings with a color chart. It is accurate at a doctor’s office level, however, and CAP certified for quality control.
The kit provides everything you need to collect your blood sample, as well as a postage-paid envelope. Results take between seven days and one month to arrive in the mail. You can opt to get them in pdf form via email, which reviews say happens more quickly.
Sources
https://www.healthline.com/health/cholesterol-test
https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/home-use-tests/cholesterol
https://www.webmd.com/cholesterol-management/cholesterol-home-test-kits
https://www.cadth.ca/does-skin-cholesterol-testing-provide-benefit-0