Vascular diseases are the UK's biggest killer, with over 170,000 deaths every year from heart attacks, strokes, kidney failure and diabetes.
To help bring this alarming statistic down, many pharmacies offer blood pressure checks and cholesterol screening.
High cholesterol is a ticking time bomb because it causes no obvious symptoms, but it can cause a heart attack or stroke without warning. And high cholesterol is more common than you might think. In fact, up to two thirds of adults are estimated to have raised cholesterol levels without even realising it.
As soon as you reach middle age you should pop into your local pharmacy for cholesterol screening regularly. If you're in your 20s and have a family history of vascular diseases then you should go for cholesterol screening now just to be safe. Warning signs that your level could be high include a diet high in saturated fats, being overweight, excessive intake of alcohol and smoking.
If your cholesterol screening consultation finds that you have high levels of cholesterol then there's no need to panic. Making lifestyle changes, such as exercising regularly and stopping smoking (which you can get help for at the pharmacy), can help to bring your cholesterol down to a healthier level. In more serious cases your pharmacist will refer you to your GP for additional medication.
Cholesterol screening at your local pharmacy is easily accessible and consists of little more than a little finger prick to get a blood sample. So don't let cholesterol be your ticking time bomb by getting your levels checked regularly.
High cholesterol is a ticking time bomb because it causes no obvious symptoms, but it can cause a heart attack or stroke without warning. And high cholesterol is more common than you might think. In fact, up to two thirds of adults are estimated to have raised cholesterol levels without even realising it.
As soon as you reach middle age you should pop into your local pharmacy for cholesterol screening regularly. If you're in your 20s and have a family history of vascular diseases then you should go for cholesterol screening now just to be safe. Warning signs that your level could be high include a diet high in saturated fats, being overweight, excessive intake of alcohol and smoking.
If your cholesterol screening consultation finds that you have high levels of cholesterol then there's no need to panic. Making lifestyle changes, such as exercising regularly and stopping smoking (which you can get help for at the pharmacy), can help to bring your cholesterol down to a healthier level. In more serious cases your pharmacist will refer you to your GP for additional medication.
Cholesterol screening at your local pharmacy is easily accessible and consists of little more than a little finger prick to get a blood sample. So don't let cholesterol be your ticking time bomb by getting your levels checked regularly.
