The Basics
Talk to your doctor about when and how often you should have your cholesterol (ko-less-ter-ol) checked. Most men should have their cholesterol checked at least once every 5 years. Women at risk for heart disease should also get their cholesterol checked every 5 years.
If you have a family history of heart disease or other risk factors for heart disease (like smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure, or obesity), you may need to get checked more often.
Too much cholesterol in your blood can cause heart disease or a heart attack. The good news is that cholesterol can be easily checked. And if your cholesterol is high, there are things you can do to control it.
