Want to know your cholesterol?
Find out the next time you give blood.

Having your cholesterol checked is a good idea for everyone. Did you know that you can find out your number and do a good deed at the same time?  United Blood Services began providing free cholesterol testing for blood donors last year and it’s been a hit.

“I was pleasantly surprised when a friend told me I would have a cholesterol screening,” said Kelly Brickey, a blood donor from Phoenix, Arizona. “I am now telling all my friends to give blood, so they can help someone in need and get a free cholesterol test at the same time.”

Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that occurs naturally in all parts of the body. Your body needs some cholesterol to work properly. But if you have too much in your blood, it can stick to the walls of your arteries. This is called plaque. Plaque can narrow your arteries or even block them. If you have high levels of cholesterol in your blood, it can increase your risk of heart disease. Your cholesterol levels tend to rise as you get older. There are usually no signs or symptoms that you have high blood cholesterol, but it can be detected with a blood test. United Blood Services does a “total cholesterol” test that allows donors to eat before the test—no fasting required.

United Blood Services uses the ‘total cholesterol’ test because it’s important for donors to have a healthy meal before they donate.  It is recommended that adults have a different cholesterol test, called a lipoprotein profile, every 5 years. A lipoprotein profile requires a 12-hour fast and is done at a physician’s office or lab.