High cholesterol. You can't feel it, see it or hear it. But when your cholesterol sneaks up above a desirable level, it puts you at an increased risk for a heart attack and other heart diseases. Several things can cause high cholesterol. These risk factors can be broken down into two categories, controllable factors and uncontrollable factors.

The controllable factors may include smoking and medical conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure.

The uncontrollable risk factors may include having a family history of heart disease, being a male 45 years old or older or a female 55 years old or older, or having a medical condition such as coronary heart disease. Combine high cholesterol with the above risk factors, and you could be in for more trouble.

What can you do?

• Have your cholesterol tested so that you know your numbers!
• Set Your Cholesterol Goal. Identifying your risk factors and knowing your current cholesterol levels will help you and your doctor figure out what your cholesterol goals should be.
• Reduce Your Heart Risks. You can help reach your cholesterol goals by reducing risk factors such as stop smoking, maintaining your ideal body weight, and controlling your blood pressure and/or blood sugar if you have diabetes.
• Engage in Regular Physical Activity. Increase your HDL (good cholesterol) levels by participating in regular exercise.
• Change Your Diet. Reduce your cholesterol level by making wise food choices and by using low-fat and low-cholesterol cooking techniques.
• See Your Health Care Provider. Sometimes diet and other changes are not enough to lower cholesterol and you may need to take medications. See your health care provider regularly so that your cholesterol levels can be monitored.

To find out in just 5 minutes if your cholesterol level is healthy, stop by or call your local Publix Pharmacy and ask if the service is available at your location or click below to see if your Publix Pharmacy offers this service.

Publix Pharmacy offers the following Cholesterol Screenings at select locations:

• Total Lipid Profile: fasting screening (Total Cholesterol, HDL, LDL, Triglycerides, and glucose)  $20
• Total Choleseterol & HDL: non-fasting screening $15

Publix Pharmacies offering Cholesterol Screening services. [Tests available in FL and SC].