How It Works
Order Your Test
Once you have placed your order, your test kit will be delivered within days and in discreet packaging.
Activate & Collect Sample
After online activation of your test kit, you can collect your sample within a few minutes and mail it back to us in the pre-paid envelope.
View Results
A certified laboratory will review your sample and your test results will be available within a matter of days.
Reviews
What is a Cholesterol Test?
This test measures the total cholesterol, LDL, HDL and Triglyceride levels in your blood. The test is a fingerprick test that you can easily take from home. Your sample will then be examined by a certified laboratory and you will receive the results within a matter of days. It couldn’t be easier!
Common symptoms:
High cholesterol in itself does not produce any noticeable symptoms. This is why it is often discovered by chance through other bloodwork.
About the test results
Cholesterol
Cholesterol is produced in the liver and is found in every cell of the body. There are two types of cholesterol: one in the form of HDL (high-density cholesterol) and LDL (low-density cholesterol). HDL is also referred to as the ‘good’ cholesterol and LDL is known as the ‘bad’ cholesterol. An elevated cholesterol level is defined as total cholesterol above 6.5 mmol / l.
HDL
High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL) is called the “good” cholesterol because it transports excess bad cholesterol to your liver to clear it. For the HDL value we use a reference of >0.91, which means that if your HDL value is above 0.91, this is considered normal. To learn more about HDL, and which levels of HDL are considered normal/healthy, we recommend you to check out our article “What is HDL?”.
LDL
Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL) transports cholesterol throughout the body, creating the risk that cholesterol builds up in the arteries and can cause cardiovascular disease. For individuals without any risk factors, the LDL value is elevated if higher than 3.37 mmol / l. We apply an upper limit of 2.6 mmol / l for people with other risk factors (smoking, diabetes, cardiac issues etc).
HDL% of total cholesterol
The percentage of total cholesterol refers to the amount of HDL (= “good” cholesterol) in the body that can fight the LDL (= “bad” cholesterol). The higher the percentage of total cholesterol is HDL, the better.
Triglycerides
Triglycerides are the most common types of fats in the body. Excess calories, alcohol and sugars are converted into triglycerides and stored in the body as fat. A value lower than 2.28 mmol / l indicates a lowered risk of cardiovascular disease.
How to prevent high cholesterol
There are certain ways to prevent high cholesterol. These include but are not limited to:
- A healthy and varied diet.
- Limiting products that contain saturated fats.
- Eating as little salt as possible.
- Limiting your alcohol consumption to a maximum of one glass per day.
- Stopping smoking.
- Making sure you exercise regularly
About the Test
What is a Cholesterol Test?
This test measures the total cholesterol, LDL, HDL and Triglycerides level in your blood. The test is a fingerprick test that you can easily take from home. Your sample will then be examined by a certified laboratory and you will receive the results within a matter of days. It couldn’t be easier!
Symptoms
Common symptoms:
High cholesterol in itself does not produce any noticeable symptoms. This is why it is often discovered by accident if someone has too high a value.
Results
About the test results
Cholesterol
Cholesterol is produced in the liver and is found in every cell of the body. There are two types of cholesterol: one in the form of HDL (high-density cholesterol) and LDL (low-density cholesterol). HDL is also referred to as the ‘good’ cholesterol and LDL is known as the ‘bad’ cholesterol. An elevated cholesterol level is defined as total cholesterol above 6.5 mmol / l.
HDL
High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL) is called the “good” cholesterol because it transports excess bad cholesterol to your liver to clear it. For the HDL value we use a reference of >0.91, which means that if your HDL value is above 0.91, this is considered normal.
LDL
Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL) transports cholesterol throughout the body, creating the risk that cholesterol builds up in the arteries and can cause cardiovascular disease. For individuals without any risk factors, the LDL value is elevated if higher than 3.37 mmol / l. We apply an upper limit of 2.6 mmol / l for people with other risk factors (smoking, diabetes, cardiac issues etc).
HDL% of total cholesterol
The percentage of total cholesterol refers to the amount of HDL (= “good” cholesterol) in the body that can fight the LDL (= “bad” cholesterol). The higher the percentage of total cholesterol is HDL, the better.
Triglycerides
Triglycerides are the most common types of fats in the body. Excess calories, alcohol and sugars are converted into triglycerides and stored in the body as fat. A value lower than 2.28 mmol / l indicates a lowered risk of cardiovascular disease.
How to prevent high cholesterol
There are certain ways to prevent high cholesterol. These include but are not limited to:
- A healthy and varied diet.
- Limiting products that contain saturated fats.
- Eating as little salt as possible.
- Limiting your alcohol consumption to a maximum of one glass per day.
- Stopping smoking.
- Making sure you exercise regularly
Frequently Asked Questions
Many different factors can contribute to high blood cholesterol levels, including lifestyle factors like smoking, an unhealthy diet and lack of exercise, as well as having an underlying condition, such as high blood pressure or diabetes.
If cholesterol levels are high you can develop symptoms of heart disease, stroke, or atherosclerosis in other blood vessels, such as left-sided chest pain, pressure, or fullness; dizziness; slurred speech; or pain in the lower legs.
Stress is not a direct cause of high cholesterol, but it can cause extra physical stress. It is wise not only to pay attention to your diet when you are under a lot of stress but also to exercise more.
High cholesterol in itself does not produce any noticeable symptoms. This is why it is often discovered by accident if someone has too high a value.
Cholesterol is a waxy material that is found in all body cells. It is a fat-like substance that binds to HDL and LDL proteins and is formed in the liver. There are two types of cholesterol – the “good” cholesterol, HDL, and the “bad” cholesterol, LDL.
Cholesterol is important for performing various functions in the body and making hormones. These hormones include:
- Estrogen
- Cortisol
- Vitamin D
To learn more about cholesterol, check out our article, Cholesterol and Your Health.
High cholesterol does not cause any symptoms on its own, so it often goes undetected. However, if these levels are not reduced over time, they can be a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. An LDL level that is too high contributes to the calcification of the blood vessels. Calcified blood vessels are a risk factor for heart attack and stroke.
Home cholesterol tests are recommended to almost everyone. However, Homed-IQ cholesterol self-tests are particularly advisable for people who belong to risk groups for cardiovascular disease. Risk groups include:
- Smokers
- People with high blood pressure
- People with type 2 diabetes
- Elderly people and men
- People with a family history of heart attacks or strokes
This home cholesterol self-test helps you understand your cholesterol levels, which is related to your risk of blood vessels calcification (arteriosclerosis). As such, the total cholesterol and LDL values are particularly important to the test result.
High cholesterol itself has no symptoms. However, prolonged high cholesterol can cause other diseases.
These diseases include, but are not limited to, heart disease, stroke, or atherosclerosis in other blood vessels. Symptoms of these conditions can include symptoms such as left-sided chest pain, pressure or fullness; Dizziness; slurred speech, or pain in the lower legs.
Foods that are particularly high in cholesterol can lead to elevated cholesterol levels. However, the combination of lifestyle with eating habits is usually what leads to increased levels. Habits such as lack of exercise, smoking, obesity, or excessive alcohol consumption significantly worsen your cholesterol levels if you do not eat a balanced diet. Additionally, some people have naturally high cholesterol levels due to genetics.
