Appointments available for no-cost health screening on Sept. 7 in Pittsfield

PITTSFIELD, Ill. — Reservations are being taken for a no-cost cholesterol screening on Thursday, Sept. 7, at the Illini Education and Business Center, 321 W. Washington.

The screening requires at 12-hour fast and will measure HDL and LDL cholesterol, triglycerides and glucose levels.

Appointments are required and available between 7 and 9 a.m. on the day of the screening. An appointment can be made by going online to https://events.blessinghealth.org/events/3340, or by calling 217-277-5000. 

A cholesterol test provides important information about a person’s risk of developing heart disease. There are steps a person can take to lower their LDL or “bad” cholesterol level and decrease their risk of developing heart problems in the future.

A cholesterol test measures the following:

• LDL levels. Also known as “bad” cholesterol, LDL is the main source of blockages in the arteries.
• HDL levels. Considered “good” cholesterol, HDL helps get rid of LDL cholesterol.
• Triglyceride levels. Triglycerides are a type of fat found in the blood. Some studies show that high levels of triglycerides may increase the risk of heart disease, especially in women.

A blood glucose test is used to find out if a person’s blood sugar levels are in a healthy range. It is often used to help diagnose and monitor diabetes. A person with diabetes is twice as likely to have heart disease or a stroke than someone who does not have diabetes, and at a younger age.