Cholesterol screening is the key to detecting high cholesterol. It import to do have screening because cholesterol does not have symptoms, therefore many people do not know that their cholesterol is too high. Your doctor can do a simple blood test to check your cholesterol level.

The National Cholesterol Education Program recommends that adults aged 20 years or older have their cholesterol checked every five years. However, you may need to have your cholesterol checked more often if any of the following statements applies to you:

Your total cholesterol is 200 mg/dL or higher.
You are a man older than age 45 or a woman older than age 50.
Your HDL cholesterol is lower than 40 mg/dL.
You have other risk factors for heart disease and stroke.3

Talk to your doctor to make sure you are being check as often and needed.