What is cholesterol?
Cholesterol is a waxy substance made and used by the body. It is also found in some of the foods that you eat. If there is too much cholesterol in your blood, it starts to collect and harden on the walls of your arteries, which blocks blood flow. High blood cholesterol is one of the biggest risk factors for heart disease.
Why is cholesterol screening important?
Cholesterol screening tells you if you have too much cholesterol in your bloodstream. If you are aware that you have a high blood cholesterol level, you can take steps to reduce this level and, therefore, reduce your risk of heart disease.
Cholesterol screening measures how many milligrams of cholesterol are present in a deciliter of your blood (mg/dl). A sample of your blood can be taken to measure your total cholesterol level.
Who needs cholesterol screening?
Cholesterol screening is recommended at least every 5 years for men ages 35-75 and women ages 45-75. If you have a family history of very high cholesterol and other risk factors for heart disease (high blood pressure, smoking, inactive lifestyle, obesity, and diabetes), you are at increased risk for high cholesterol and its complications. Your doctor may ask you to be screened more often.
What is included in the 'Visual' Cholesterol Home Test Kit?
2 test strips, 2 safety lancets, an indicative colour chart and full instructions - i.e. all you need to carry out 2 full cholesterol tests.