Health Tip: Do You Need Frequent Cholesterol Screenings?

High cholesterol increases your risk of heart attack and stroke. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says current guidelines recommend that adults 20 or older be screened every five years.

But the agency says you may need more frequent cholesterol screenings if:

• You are a woman 50 or older, or a man 45 or older.
• Your total cholesterol is 200 mg/dL or higher.
• Your HDL (good) cholesterol is below 40 mg/dL.
• In addition to having high cholesterol, you have other risk factors for heart disease or stroke, such as high blood pressure or being overweight.