IMPORTANCE OF CHOLESTEROL CHECKS

Every 10000km your car gets checked by a mechanic to make sure it is functioning properly. Servicing your car prevents it form breaking down and extends its life. Optimum performance though is a result of ensuring the filters, pumps and oils are the recommended ones. As a result, you may invest a lot of time into maintaining your vehicle to avoid breakdowns. So why not apply this logic to caring for your heart?

Your heart, and how well it performs, like your car, is based on a number of factors. High cholesterol is one of them. You read about the importance of good and bad cholesterol above and you know that too much bad cholesterol will affect your heart’s performance.

It isn’t all doom and gloom though, having your cholesterol checked is as easy as having your car serviced - all you need to do is see a professional. By asking your doctor for a simple blood test, he or she can assess the levels of good and bad cholesterol in your blood.

Cholesterol targets are established for those who have been diagnosed with heart disease. If you are one of the 81% of Australians not living with heart disease, then your personal targets depend on things such as family history and current state of health.

So when you are next at the doctors, why not check up on your cholesterol. The test usually only takes a few minutes and you can be back on the road in no time.