September is National Cholesterol Education Month

Are you up to date with this important health screening?

Getting your cholesterol levels checked is an important part of staying healthy. High cholesterol increases your risk for heart disease and stroke, two leading causes of death in the United States. Knowing your cholesterol status can help you stay in control of your health.¹

Speak with your doctor to find out how often you or your child should get a blood test to check cholesterol levels. UniCare members are covered for this screening every 12 months.

A complete cholesterol test – also called a lipid panel or lipid profile – is a blood test that can measure the amount of cholesterol and triglycerides in your blood.

According to the Mayo Clinic, "A cholesterol test can help determine your risk of the buildup of plaques in your arteries that can lead to narrowed or blocked arteries throughout your body (atherosclerosis). A cholesterol test is an important tool. High cholesterol levels often are a significant risk factor for coronary artery disease."²

^{1 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website: How and When to Have Your Cholesterol Checked (accessed September 2020): cdc.gov.
2 Mayo Clinic website: Cholesterol Test. (accessed September 2020): mayoclinic.org.}