Private MD News

Local health departments offer free cholesterol testing

Category: Heart Health and Cholesterol

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in America, but it is preventable in most people. To help individuals get this message, health departments around the country are trying to raise awareness and understanding of the condition.

The Little Elm Journal recently reported that public health officials of the Little Elm, Texas held a day of free cholesterol and blood pressure testing to make area residents aware of their risk for developing heart problems.

Health services coordinator, Toni Nelson, told the news source that the goal of the event was not only to let people know what their risk factors are, but also connect them to doctors who can help treat their conditions.

"This informs the public of services they can use." She said. "There are a lot of nonprofit agencies and this lets people know what's available."

Heart disease killed 631,636 Americans in 2006, according to the most recent available statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.