- With Mayo Clinic cardiologist
Thomas Behrenbeck, M.D., Ph.D.
read biographyclose windowBiography of
Thomas Behrenbeck, M.D., Ph.D.
Thomas Behrenbeck, M.D.
Dr. Thomas Behrenbeck is a native of Germany, where he received his medical education at the Westfalian Wilhelm University in Munster and became board certified in internal medicine and cardiology.
He also received a Ph.D. in biophysics and physiology at the University of Minnesota. Dr. Behrenbeck joined the Mayo Clinic staff in 1990 and is currently an associate professor at Mayo Medical School and an academic faculty member at the Westfalian Wilhelm University. He is the past chair of the Cardiovascular Medicine & Surgery NetWork of the American College of Chest Physicians.
Dr. Behrenbeck is a noninvasive cardiologist, specializing in cardiovascular (CV) imaging modalities (echocardiography, nuclear cardiology and CT), coronary artery disease and prevention of coronary artery disease. His research interests are the application of imaging technology to early recognition and treatment of atherosclerosis. He is passionate about patients' involvement in their health issues.
"The Internet and patient education present ideal synergies in the ever-growing field of knowledge in cardiology," he says.
Definition (1)
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Symptoms (1)
- Arcus senilis: A sign of high cholesterol?
Tests and diagnosis (3)
- Cholesterol ratio: Is it important?
- Cholesterol test kits: Are they accurate?
- Cholesterol level: Can it be too low?
Treatments and drugs (6)
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- After a flood, are food and medicine safe to use?
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- see all in Treatments and drugs
Lifestyle and home remedies (4)
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- MUFAs: Why should my diet include these fats?
- see all in Lifestyle and home remedies
Alternative medicine (2)
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- Noni juice: Can it reduce cholesterol?
Prevention (2)
- Healthy heart for life: Avoiding heart disease
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Question
Cholesterol test kits: Are they accurate?
Are home cholesterol test kits accurate?
Answer
from Thomas Behrenbeck, M.D., Ph.D.
Home cholesterol test kits don't substitute for a cholesterol test performed by medical professionals. The accuracy of home cholesterol test kits varies considerably, and your results can't offer a complete picture of your risk of developing heart disease.
Home cholesterol test kits are widely available. Many cholesterol test kits measure only total cholesterol. But a few also measure high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and triglycerides — a type of fat found in the blood. Although home cholesterol testing seems fast and easy, it's important to regard the results with caution.
Even when cholesterol testing is done by trained professionals in a lab, your test results can vary. The variability may be even greater with home cholesterol test kits, especially if you're not fasting when you take the test, or if you don't precisely follow the directions on the test packaging.
Remember, cholesterol management requires more than simply measuring total cholesterol. Your doctor can help you figure out how to best manage your cholesterol numbers. And even then, consider other factors — such as family history, smoking and high blood pressure — when deciding how to maintain your heart's health.
Next questionCholesterol level: Can it be too low?
- Ross J. Home test measures total cholesterol. The Nurse Practitioner. 2003;28:52.
- Cholesterol, home testing devices. American Heart Association. http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4501. Accessed July 6, 2010.
- Home-use tests: Cholesterol. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. http://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/ProductsandMedicalProcedures/InVitroDiagnostics/HomeUseTests/ucm125686.htm. Accessed July 6, 2010.
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