I'm going to try this again in the morning. I was going to have it done a few weeks ago, but I apparently decided to get sick with a stomach virus instead. (They said fast for 12 hours, not 36!) Anyway, I already know it won't be less than 200, which is desirable. I am hoping for under 240. It has been as high as 248. Not good for someone who was 20 at the time.
Now for my periodic public service announcement:
The Methodist Wellmobile does frequent cholesterol screenings throughout the area that are free, and it doesn't take a lot of time to do. You do need to fast for 12 hours before the test. They give you your total cholesterol, HDL (the good cholesterol), LDL (the bad), triglycerides (fat that hangs out in the blood), and glucose. It's a simple finger stick so no blood draws are necessary (good for those of you that get nauseated at the idea of a needle). Your cholesterol levels are a good indicator of your risk for coronary heart disease and stroke, so knowing what yours are and taking the appropriate course of action to reduce high cholesterol, or maintain a normal level, is an important step toward maintaining a good quality of life.
I know, you've heard this all before...but it really can save your life.
If anyone is interested, here's the website with the screening schedule. They also offer other screens for a fee.
Schedule and locations
Note: You do actually want your HDL (high density lipoprotein) levels to be high, since these seem to bind with and carry cholesterol away from the arteries and back to the liver, where it can be flushed from the body.¹ Physical activity can help boost your HDL, so there's a good excuse to get up off the couch (myself included).
So wish me luck. Hopefully the numbers won't give me a heart attack.
¹ http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/Cholesterol/AboutCholesterol/Good-vs-Bad-Cholesterol_UCM_305561_Article.jsp
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