High cholesterol usually has no signs or symptoms. The only way to know whether you have high cholesterol is to get your cholesterol checked. Your health are team can do a simple blood test, called a “lipid profile,” to measure your cholesterol levels.

Who Needs to Get Their Cholesterol Checked? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the following should have their cholesterol checked:

• Most healthy adults should have their cholesterol checked every 4 to 6 years.
• Some people, such as people who have heart disease or diabetes or who have a family history of high cholesterol, need to get their cholesterol checked more often.
• Children and adolescents should have their cholesterol checked at least once between ages 9 and 11 and again between ages 17 and 21.

South Central Regional Medical Center is hosting a FREE Cholesterol Screening on March 24 from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. at South Central Place in Laurel. To schedule your time, please call 601-399-0506. This screening is provided at no charge to the community thanks to the South Central Health Care Foundation.