Q: Who should be tested for high cholesterol?
A: Maintaining healthy cholesterol levels is important for everyone: young, middle-aged, and older adults; women and men; and people with or without heart disease. Adults 20 years and older should have their cholesterol measured at least once every 5 years. Those found to have elevated cholesterol requiring changes in diet or drug therapy, or who have been diagnosed with heart disease will require more frequent lipid profile testing, at least annually.

Q: Why should I test my cholesterol level?
A: As one of the major risk factors for developing heart disease, your blood cholesterol level affects your chances of having a heart attack. It is important to find out what your cholesterol levels are because lowering cholesterol levels that are too high lessens the chance of having a heart attack or dying from heart disease, even if you already have it.

Q: Why should I use Home Access Instant Cholesterol Test?
A: The Home Access Instant Cholesterol Test can help you find out your cholesterol level quickly, simply, and conveniently in your home. Home Access has specialists ready to help you understand your personal risk for developing heart disease so you can take control of your personal health and well-being.
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Q: What does my total cholesterol level mean?
A: Screening your blood for total cholesterol acts as a general indicator of the risk of heart disease, but represents a group of several "lipids," good and bad. Generally, it is best to have a total cholesterol level less than 200 mg/dL, but if your value is greater, or if you have additional risk factors, you should have an additional blood test called a "lipid profile" to find out the rest of your cholesterol numbers.

Q: Is it enough to know my cholesterol level?
A: No. Cholesterol is only one of many risk factors that may increase your chance of heart disease. The National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP), a 'blue ribbon' committee of health professionals responsible for making recommendations for the detection, evaluation, and treatment of high blood cholesterol in adults, established new guidelines in May 2001. These recommendations focus on identifying and managing parts of your life that increase your risk of heart disease, particularly lowering LDL Cholesterol in persons with multiple risk factors.

Q: When I go to the doctor I always have to fast before my cholesterol test, why don't I have to fast for this test?
A: It is important to fast for the measurement of certain blood lipids, which are sensitive to the effects of recent dietary intake, particularly triglycerides and LDL (Low Density Lipoprotein). The NIH recommendations contained in Adult Treatment Panel III ( ATP III ) state that "A lipoprotein profile involving measurement of triglycerides and the indirect calculation of LDL cholesterol (the common method) requires a 9- to 12-hour fast." These recommendations specifically exclude measurement of total cholesterol such as conducted with the Home Access Instant Cholesterol Test.

Q: Will eating a big meal affect the result?
A: According to ATP III, the measurement of any lipid is preferably performed with the person in a baseline stable condition, that is, in the absence of acute illnesses including stroke, trauma, surgery, acute infection, weight loss, pregnancy, or recent change in usual diet. The effect of a 'big meal' is difficult to predict without knowing how it relates to the users normal dietary intake, but it would probably be prudent to avoid such a meal just prior to using the test.

Q: What is HDL?
A: Often called "good cholesterol," HDL helps keep cholesterol from building up in the arteries.

Q: What are triglycerides?
A: Triglycerides are another form of fat normally present in your blood.

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