Expert advice on your heart's health
'Your risk of getting heart disease depends on a number of things. Cholesterol is one of them, but age, gender, blood pressure, family history, diet, weight, diabetes, smoking and physical activity levels play a big part, too. For this reason, a cholesterol test taken at home won't always give you a clear idea of your overall heart health. It can offer false reassurance if the result is low, or cause undue anxiety if the result is high. For example, a person with a cholesterol reading of 4 who smokes and has high blood pressure may be worse off than a person with a reading of 5, who doesn't have these risk factors. You're more likely to get an accurate assessment of your heart health if you visit your GP.'
Ellen Mason, heart nurse, British Heart Foundation
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