Cholesterol Screening
Cholesterol is a substance found only in foods that come from animals. It is also manufactured in the human body by the liver. You need small amounts of cholesterol to make and maintain nerve cells and to manufacture natural hormones.
When you have too much cholesterol in your bloodstream it is called hypercholesterolemia, or high cholesterol. Hypercholesterolemia increases your risk of heart disease.
- TC: (Total Cholesterol) This is a combination of LDL+HDL+ (TG divided by 5)
- VLDL: (Very Low Density Lipoprotein) This carries fat from the liver to storage areas and is a precursor to LDL.
- LDL: (Low Density Lipoprotein) This is VLDL after it has dropped off its fat. This is often called the "bad" cholesterol because it can stick to the walls of your blood vessels and cause narrowing.
- HDL: (High Density Lipoprotein) This the "good" or "healthy" cholesterol. It circulates throughout your body and rescues the LDL from the blood vessel walls.
- TG: (Triglycerides) This is a component that when elevated is an independent risk factor for Coronary Heart Disease (CHD).
High Cholesterol is the #1 cause of Coronary Heart Disease (CHD). CHD is the leading cause of disability and death in the US. This condition results when the arteries that feed your heart become narrowed or clogged with fat. 500,000 lives are lost each year due to CHD.
You should be concerned about your cholesterol level because it is a factor used to predict your risk of developing CHD. As your cholesterol levels rise, your risk of CHD becomes greater.
At Main at Locust Pharmacy Clinic and Medical Supplies, we can quickly and conveniently test your cholesterol
- We make it easy
- Performed with a simple finger stick
- Have your results in 5 minutes
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