Physicians in Urgent Care Clinic VA Talk of Cholesterol Month
Have you checked your cholesterol lately? Every year, the month of September is observed as National Cholesterol Education Month. The medical community, including doctors and researchers, and health-conscious people come together to spread awareness about cholesterol in the United States.
Do you know high levels of cholesterol is a chief cause of heart disease and can lead to heart attack and stroke? Sedentary living, unhealthy diet, poor and lifestyle choices can lead to a rise in cholesterol level.
About cholesterol
Liver produces cholesterol. This is a fat-like substance found in the body. Cholesterol is not the monster as it is made out to be, says one of the physicians at the urgent care clinic in VA. In fact, this fatty substance is needed by the body for three important functions:
• To help in the secretion of sex hormones.
• To build tissues.
• To help in the production of bile in liver.
Do you know your liver produces enough cholesterol for the above functions? You need not supplement it through food. Yet, our food contains ingredients that add to the cholesterol level in blood, giving arise to all sorts of problems.
It is important to know your cholesterol level in the body. For this, you need not visit a hospital and spend hours scheduling an appointment for a test, doing the paperwork, and waiting for your turn.
Simply walk in the physician offices in Alexandria, VA, and undergo a cholesterol panel.
About National Cholesterol Education Month
During the National Cholesterol Education month, healthcare providers across the United States organize events and education programs to make people aware of the dangers of high cholesterol.
Many people have wrong notions about cholesterol. They think all cholesterol is bad. This isn’t true. This month is the best time to break such myths and know the truth about this essential substance of the body. Cholesterol is a good thing. It becomes bad only when it is in excess in the body. And this happens when we take foods that add up the cholesterol content.
Awareness about cholesterol functions in the body and foods that unnecessarily increase cholesterol levels can help people make the right health choices.
Factors that increase the risk of high cholesterol
Genes, age, habits like smoking, inactive lifestyle, and obesity are crucial factors that can make a person at risk of having high cholesterol levels.
Testing for cholesterol
Cholesterol test is a simple blood test. As you visit your nearest physician offices in Alexandria, VA, the lab technician would take your blood sample. Before that, you must be on fast for 12 hours. So, if you had your dinner last night at 9 pm. Visit the clinic after 9 am. Do not eat or drink anything, except water.
The blood test examines the level of trigylcerides, lipoproteins, and total cholesterol.
The National Cholesterol Education program suggests that people above the age of 20 should undergo cholesterol panel every five years. If your cholesterol stays high, then you must monitor it frequently.
Physicians at the urgent care clinic in VA can guide you in maintaining good levels of cholesterol.
