McHenry County Health Department offers cholesterol screenings

McHenry County Department of Health will offer cholesterol screenings from 9 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 2, at the Woodstock Public Library, 414 W Judd St., and 9 to 11 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 6 at the Harvard-Diggins Library, 900 E McKinley St.

Appointments are required. 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 and cardiovascular education. For appointments at the Woodstock Library, call MCDH at (815) 334-4536; for the Harvard Library, call (815) 943-4671.

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