Reserve your appointment now for a no-cost cholesterol screening on Tuesday, October 8, at Blessing Health Hannibal, 100 Medical Drive, in the MJB Conference Room.
The screening requires at 12-hour fast. It measures HDL and LDL cholesterol, triglycerides and glucose levels.
Appointments are required and available between 7:30 and 8:45 am on October 8. Make an appointment now by going online to https://events.blessinghealth.org/ and search “cholesterol screening”, or by calling the Blessing Resource Center at 217-277-5000, or by stopping by the Resource Center at 420 N. 34th Street, Quincy.
A cholesterol test provides important information about a person’s risk of developing heart disease. There are steps a person can take to lower their LDL or “bad” cholesterol level and decrease their risk of developing heart problems in the future. A cholesterol test measures the following:
- LDL levels. Also known as "bad" cholesterol, LDL is the main source of blockages in the arteries.
- HDL levels. Considered "good" cholesterol, HDL helps get rid of LDL cholesterol.
- Triglyceride levels. Triglycerides are a type of fat found in the blood. Some studies show that high levels of triglycerides may increase the risk of heart disease, especially in women.
A blood glucose test is used to find out if a person’s blood sugar levels are in a healthy range. It is often used to help diagnose and monitor diabetes. A person with diabetes is twice as likely to have heart disease or a stroke than someone who does not have diabetes, and at a younger age.