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Skipping the hot fudge sundae at dinner or opting for chicken over steak may be in your control, if you know what you’re up against. According to researchers at the Cleveland Clinic, a new at-home cholesterol skin test might encourage people to change their eating habits and therefore avoid cardiovascular trouble later.

The three-minute cholesterol skin test works by placing a few drops of fluid in the fleshy area of the palm, near the base of the thumb, then measuring the color change with a special meter. The skin test was used on 381 people during a study.

Study researchers say that people are more apt to use tests such as these if they’re convenient and easy. They cite the fact that diabetics don’t watch their sugar levels as much because of the pinprick involved in testing the blood.

People with the highest skin cholesterol levels had up to a 38 percent greater risk of heart disease than with the lowest ones. They also discovered that the subjects with the highest levels of skin cholesterol had the greatest number of diseased arteries.

Unfortunately the cholesterol levels in the skin do not seem to match the levels in the blood. But, if scientists can develop a skin test that accurately measures cholesterol levels, they believe it will encourage patients who are afraid of needle sticks.

For more information, contact the Cleveland Clinic or the American Heart Association.

This entry was posted on Thursday, May 6th, 2010 at 7:00 am and is filed under Conditions and Diseases. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.