Private MD News

Experts recommend cholesterol testing

Category: Heart Health and Cholesterol

More Americans die from heart disease every year. One of the leading causes of poor heart health is high cholesterol. For this reason, health experts are recommending that more individuals seek cholesterol testing.

Cholesterol testing may allow healthcare providers to determine whether or not a patient has heart health problems that will require them to make certain lifestyle changes. Heart health can often be improved by increasing exercise and eating more nutritious foods.

Debra Chalmers, a New York-based nurse practitioner, said that she recommends to all her patients that they have their cholesterol tested every year after age 40. If a patient is found to have high cholesterol, she then to recommends that they add more lean meats and fruits and vegetables to their diet.

She added that avoiding saturated fats and trans fats can also make a significant improvement on a patient's heart heath.

More than 25 percent of Americans die from heart disease every year, which is significantly more than other causes of death, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. More cholesterol testing and other prevention efforts may help lower this number.