All it takes is 15 minutes and a pinprick to find out your cholesterol level, a key step in the prevention of heart disease.
Heart disease is a leading cause of death in Americans, and elevated levels of cholesterol in the bloodstream can increase heart attack risk. In an attempt to raise awareness and prevent heart disease, Lifeline holds open cholesterol screenings four times a year on the Portland campus.
“Guess who’s mostly scared of the needle?” asked Nora Stetson, a Lifeline staff member who ran the screening clinic last week in the Sullivan Gymnasium. “Men.”
That said, the pinprick itself is nearly painless, and the drop of blood it raises is placed onto a slide and run through a machine that screens for total cholesterol, HDL, and a ratio of the two. The process is considerably less involved than the typical fasting-cholesterol reading taken in doctor’s offices, and is accurate within a few points of fasting results.
Cholesterol is a soft, waxy substance that makes up part of the lipid (fat) content in the blood and cells of the human body. The body makes some cholesterol, but most of it is consumed. A certain level of cholesterol is essential for the formation of cell membranes and tissues, but the average American diet adds far too much to the mix, leading to a condition known as hypercholesterolemia. When this happens, cholesterol can stick to the walls of arteries, forming a plaque that can lead to clogging, which in turn leads to elevated risk of heart attack, and stroke.
The American Heart Association recommends a total cholesterol level below 200mg/dL. Up to 240mg/dL is considered borderline, and over 240 is high risk. About half of Americans are in the low-risk category, while a third are borderline.
“I was surprised by how many high readings we’ve gotten today,” said Stetson. “There’ve hardly been any below 200.”
The facts may seem frightening, but cholesterol levels that fall in the borderline range can often be brought down by diet, exercise, and lifestyle changes. This preventative approach is what Lifeline is seeking to encourage by hosting the public screenings.
“We encourage a preventative approach,” said Tom Downing, director of Lifeline. “It’s about good, positive health habits. If people come in and their numbers are high, the first step is looking at diet and lifestyle changes.”
Cholesterol is found only in animal products such as meat, fish, eggs, and butter, so switching to a more vegetable- and grain-based diet is the first step in keeping the numbers low. Exercise is also helpful in maintaining healthy levels, as is not smoking.
The terminology can be overwhelming, but understanding the different types of cholesterol is essential to making healthy lifestyle choices. HDL, or high-density lipoprotein, known as the “good” cholesterol seems to protect against heart disease by carrying cholesterol away from the arteries and back to the liver, where it can be passed from the body. LDL, or low-density lipoprotein, is considered “bad” as it is the type that builds up along artery walls, leading to arteriosclerosis.
“The HDL reading is important,” said Stetson. “Doctors are really looking at that now.”
University Health Services also offers cholesterol screening. They provide the 12-hour fasting screening that involves drawing a larger amount of blood, but it gives a thorough lipid-panel reading. Being that USM has a largely young and healthy population, high cholesterol readings aren’t a frequent problem, but UHS does offer advice on overall heart-healthy living.
“We offer advice on diet and lifestyle modifications. We might send someone to a nutritionist to take an intense look at their eating habits. Very few people need to go on medication.”