Health Screening Services Body Mass Index (BMI) Test BMI is a measure of the amount of weight a person carries for their height, it’s one of the most accurate ways to determine whether an adult is overweight. A high BMI may indicate a risk of heart disease and diabetes, especially if there are other risk factors present. We recommend checking your BMI once a year. BMI tests are free and available in all McCabes Pharmacies Cholesterol Test High cholesterol is when you have too much of a fatty substance called cholesterol in your blood and is a major risk for coronary heart disease. It’s mainly caused by eating fatty food, not exercising enough, being overweight, smoking and drinking alcohol. It can also run in families. High cholesterol does not cause symptoms and you will only find out if you have it when you have a blood test. To test cholesterol, a small sample of blood is taken. This sample is then put onto a strip which is then put into a machine which reads the level of cholesterol. This test does not require fasting. We recommend testing your cholesterol levels annually, and more often if you have underlying conditions. What do the numbers mean? Total Cholesterol - the overall amount of cholesterol in your blood, including both “good” and “bad” cholesterol. Good Cholesterol (called HDL) - makes you less likely to have heart problems or a stroke. Bad Cholesterol (called LDL) - makes you more likely to have heart problems or a stroke. Triglycerides - a fatty substance similar to bad cholesterol. Vitamin D Test The main function of vitamin D is to aid the absorption of calcium during bone formation. It also has antiinflammatory properties and others that play a role in maintaining a normal muscle, immune, and nervous system. Vitamin D may also contribute to balancing mood. Testing measures the level of this essential substance in the blood and can diagnose deficiencies or be used to monitor treatment for a known deficiency. The test takes just 2 minutes! 4 Speak to your McCabes Pharmacist
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