Get your cholesterol checked at screenings in Crystal Lake

McHenry County Department of Health will offer a cholesterol screening from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 7, at Sage YMCA, 701 Manor Road, Crystal Lake.

Appointments are required; call (815) 334-4851. The cost is $35. The screening requires a 12-hour fast and includes total cholesterol, HDL and LDL cholesterol, fasting blood glucose, triglycerides, blood pressure, heart age assessment and cardiovascular education. A nursing consult is available once results are received.

Why is cholesterol important? High cholesterol has a lot to do with your chances of getting heart disease. Although it usually has no signs or symptoms, it can be treated. In fact, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and diabetes are all major risk factors for heart disease.

Certain lifestyles such as being a smoker, being overweight and lack of exercise can also put people at a higher risk for developing heart disease.

Everyone can take steps to lower their risk of heart disease and heart attack by addressing these risk factors.

By quitting smoking, eating a healthy diet, getting regular exercise and maintaining a healthy weight, you can keep blood cholesterol down.

For more information on cardiovascular disease and its risk factors, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at cdc.gov/heartdisease/what_you_can_do.htm.