Measure Cholesterol and Lipid Levels and Check In On Your Heart

Why take a cholesterol and lipids test?

Having a combined cholesterol and lipids test is one of the most common ways to assess your overall heart health. High LDL-cholesterol and triglycerides have been linked to a number of diseases, including heart attack, stroke, peripheral artery disease and atherosclerosis, high blood pressure (hypertension), and type II diabetes. Controlling your blood cholesterol levels can be key to reducing your risk for these disorders.

This home cholesterol test (you collect your sample at home and send it to a lab to get your results) evaluates the four key components of a cholesterol blood test: total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein (HDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL), and triglycerides.

After you take any at-home cholesterol test (also known as a lipid profile), it is recommended that you discuss the cholesterol test results with your healthcare provider to make sure you understand your results and the implications for your health. High cholesterol can increase your heart disease risk, which is a key reason why it’s important to know if your cholesterol levels are within the normal range.

If you...

• Take cholesterol medication
• Have a family history of high cholesterol or heart disease
• Are overweight
• Drink alcohol frequently
• Smoke
• Don't exercise

Easily Discover Your Personal Levels of Total Cholesterol, HDL, Calculated LDL, and Triglycerides

Your results will contain your personal levels of Total Cholesterol, HDL, Calculated LDL, and Triglycerides and whether they fall within a low, normal, or high range. It is widely known that variance between labs can occur for any marker. This happens for either dried blood spot or serum samples, and we have ensured that the variation seen is within acceptable ranges according to widely accepted and regulated lab standards. We always encourage sharing the results of your test with your health care provider.

Everlywell can provide suggestions to jumpstart a healthier lifestyle. As always, we encourage you to share your results with your doctor, who can provide more specific guidance on lifestyle changes.

What is cholesterol?

Cholesterol is a waxy substance found in blood. It’s important for many of the body’s activities, such as building hormones, but excess cholesterol may increase your heart disease risk. High cholesterol may be managed with medication and/or lifestyle modifications (such as regular physical activity and dietary changes).

What’s the difference between LDL and HDL cholesterol?

• LDL cholesterol = “low-density lipoprotein.” It’s often called the “bad cholesterol” because it can gum up the inner walls of your arteries with plaque. (Arteries are blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart and to the rest of the body. Plaque is a hardened mixture of fat, cholesterol, and other substances in the blood.) Eventually, this can restrict the flow of blood throughout the body—and even lead to a heart attack or stroke. If you have a lot of LDL cholesterol in your bloodstream, plaque can keep building up in your arteries—increasing your risk of heart disease.
• HDL cholesterol = high-density lipoprotein. HDL is known as the “good cholesterol” because it can protect your arteries—and heart—against the harmful effects of LDL cholesterol. Normal levels of HDL have been shown to lower the risk of heart disease.

What does it mean if I have high cholesterol?

A high cholesterol level can mean that you face a higher risk of plaque buildup, heart disease, high blood pressure, and certain kinds of lipid disorders. This isn’t always the case, though, since high levels of HDL (or “good cholesterol”) can contribute to a high total cholesterol level. So it’s best to talk with your healthcare provider to understand what high cholesterol may mean for your health. Reviewing your cholesterol numbers with your healthcare provider may help you better understand if you are at a greater cardiovascular risk.

What is total cholesterol?

Total cholesterol refers to the combined amounts of different kinds of cholesterol in the body. If it’s measured directly (instead of calculated), total cholesterol refers to the combined values of HDL, LDL, and a portion of your triglycerides—as well as other types of cholesterol.

What are triglycerides?

Triglycerides are the most common type of fat in the body. Your body uses triglycerides for fuel when it needs extra energy. But high triglyceride levels pose a risk to your heart’s health—and are a risk factor for stroke, heart attack, and heart disease. That’s because triglycerides can contribute to plaque formation in arteries. This can cause arteries to become narrowed. Your heart then has to work harder to pump blood to your organs and other body parts. Taking a triglycerides blood test (which is included in our Cholesterol & Lipids Test) can tell you if your triglyceride levels are elevated.

• How to Check Cholesterol at Home
• Can I Check My Cholesterol at Home?