- Joined
- Sep 10, 2006
- Messages
- 4,071
Does anyone do it? We would like to monitor our cholesterol levels ourselves more closely to see if our diet changes are having an effect. I don't want to have our cholesterol scores repeatedly noted in our medical charts, due to obvious concerns about getting health insurance when we FIRE. We've always been health conscious, but the recent coverage of Tim Russert's sudden death (despite a normal stress test just a few months ago) has re-focused our attention. His doctor was just interviewed and said what likely happenned is that a cholesterol plaque suddenly ruptured...and that a stress test done even the morning that he died likely would have STILL been normal. Scary.
The FDA has this to say about home use tests:
"This test is about as accurate as the test your doctor uses, but you must follow the directions carefully. Total cholesterol tests vary in accuracy from brand to brand. Information about the test's accuracy is printed on its package. Tests that say they are 'traceable' to a program of the CDC may be more accurate than others." (OIVD: Home-Use Tests - Cholesterol)
This article seems to think they are not worth the investment despite the fact that they say they are 95% accurate: Accurate or Not? At-Home Cholesterol Tests and Blood Pressure Monitors Their reasons are:
"First, the most readily available (and affordable) tests only measure total cholesterol. A full understanding of your cholesterol profile requires measurements of HDL, LDL, and triglycerides as well.
Second, even if you get a sophisticated cholesterol test, a doctor needs to review your results in combination with your other risk factors -- such as family history, nutritional habits, age, and gender -- to really understand your risk for cardiovascular disease.
Third, and perhaps most important, blood cholesterol -- unlike blood pressure -- doesn’t change on a day-to-day or even week-to-week basis. Doctors recommend that healthy adults get cholesterol tests every five years; people with higher cholesterol levels or risk factors for cardiovascular disease may need to be tested more often. But even then, testing at home isn’t really necessary."
This doesn't convince me they aren't worth the investment. If I were going to buy one, I'd get one that gives all the measurements. Second, we've already discussed our risk factors with our MD. Third, we wouldn't be checking it every day - would wait to test after several months of healthy eating.
Would love to hear feedback especially from anyone who has opinions on certain brands of home test kits.
The FDA has this to say about home use tests:
"This test is about as accurate as the test your doctor uses, but you must follow the directions carefully. Total cholesterol tests vary in accuracy from brand to brand. Information about the test's accuracy is printed on its package. Tests that say they are 'traceable' to a program of the CDC may be more accurate than others." (OIVD: Home-Use Tests - Cholesterol)
This article seems to think they are not worth the investment despite the fact that they say they are 95% accurate: Accurate or Not? At-Home Cholesterol Tests and Blood Pressure Monitors Their reasons are:
"First, the most readily available (and affordable) tests only measure total cholesterol. A full understanding of your cholesterol profile requires measurements of HDL, LDL, and triglycerides as well.
Second, even if you get a sophisticated cholesterol test, a doctor needs to review your results in combination with your other risk factors -- such as family history, nutritional habits, age, and gender -- to really understand your risk for cardiovascular disease.
Third, and perhaps most important, blood cholesterol -- unlike blood pressure -- doesn’t change on a day-to-day or even week-to-week basis. Doctors recommend that healthy adults get cholesterol tests every five years; people with higher cholesterol levels or risk factors for cardiovascular disease may need to be tested more often. But even then, testing at home isn’t really necessary."
This doesn't convince me they aren't worth the investment. If I were going to buy one, I'd get one that gives all the measurements. Second, we've already discussed our risk factors with our MD. Third, we wouldn't be checking it every day - would wait to test after several months of healthy eating.
Would love to hear feedback especially from anyone who has opinions on certain brands of home test kits.