Cholesterol Screening Information & Education for Ventura and Oxnard, CA

High levels of cholesterol can increase your risk for heart disease and stroke. Cardiovascular screening tests, which are very easy and non-invasive, will tell if you have high cholesterol. You might be able to make lifestyle changes, like changing your diet, to lower your cholesterol and stay healthy.

Cholesterol screenings are considered a routine part of preventative health care. It doesn't monitor a disease, but estimates how quickly you're developing heart disease because of hardening of the arteries (artherosclerosis). There are no symptoms for high cholesterol levels. The only way you can know for sure is through a cholesterol screening.

Adults should have their cholesterol checked at least once every 5 years. You may need to be tested more often if your doctor feels it's necessary because of medication he has prescribed for you or because of major risk factors. Those might include cigarette smoking, high blood pressure, a family history of heart disease, already having had a heart attack, diabetes, or your age (men 45 years or older and women 55 years or older).

Cholesterol screenings should be done when you are not ill. You should wait at least 6 weeks after any illness to have your cholesterol measured.

The test results are grouped into 3 categories:

Desireable: A cholesterol below 200mg/dL (5.18 mmol/L) reflects a low risk of heart disease.

Borderline high: A cholesterol of 200 to 239 mg/dL (5.18 to 6.18 mmol/L) reflects a moderate risk of heart disease. Your doctor might order a lipid profile before deciding what to do.

High Risk: A cholesterol greater than or equal to 240 mg/dL (6.22 mmol/L) is considered high risk and an appropriate treatment will be prescribed by your doctor.

Here are some places where you can have your cholesterol levels checked as well as two organizations that hold classes to educate community members about nutrition so that high cholesterol is less likely to become a health problem.

There were no free cholesterol screenings offered in this area, but all of the testing centers will bill your insurance. If you go to a center other than your regular family doctor, make sure you check before your cholesterol screening that the center accepts your insurance.

Medicare covers cardiovascular screenings that check your cholesterol and other blood fat (lipid) levels every 5 years.

Personalabs does lab work on your schedule without an office visit or medical records. Your results can be accessed online in an average of 2 - 3 days. The lab work is done at:

Labcorp (next to the Ventura County Medical Center)
3400 Loma Vista Rd, Suite 12
Ventura, CA
805-644-5762

The Lipid Panel costs $45, which measures LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and triglicerides. Even if your insurance doesn't cover the cost, that works out to $9/year for the peace of mind that you aren't a heart attack waiting to happen.

Blue Cross Companies' Healthy Check Program offers PPO and EPO plan members an annual preventative care screening that evaluates a variety of health risks. For $25, you can have a cholesterol screening along with other checks and vaccinations, including current flu shots. Call (800) 274-WELL (9355) for the address in Oxnard.

The Center for Diabetes & Endocrinology believes that the best treatment is prevention. The Center offers 6 different classes and clinics free to members of the community. There's a free Cholesterol Clinic every Tuesday and Nutrition Classes on Fridays. Schedule an appointment online to take part in these free clinics and classes in Oxnard, Ventura, or Camarillo. For more information, call (805) 482-5550.

Community Memorial Hospital also believes in prevention as the best treatment. Heart-Healthy Nutrition Classes are offered in a 3 part series every 3rd Wednesday of the month. In the first class, the most vital nutrition principles will be presented. The participants decide which topics are covered in the last two classes by filling out a survey.

The next series of classes will be:
Aug 19, Sept 16, Oct 21

The last series of 2009 will be:
Nov 18, Dec 16, Jan 21

The classes are held at the CMH Training Center, 2809 Main St, Ventura and are free to HEARTAware patients who bring a coupon with them. Family members can attend for free with HEARTAware patients. Otherwise, CMH can bill your insurance or charge a discounted cash fee for the 3 part course.

Contact HEARTAware for further information or to register. (805) 667-2818

Log onto www.chhsheartaware.org to take the quiz to become a HEARTAware participant.

Source: Lab Tests Online http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/cholesterol/test.html