Students, faculty and alumni from The University of Texas at Austin School of Nursing will perform cholesterol screening for Texas legislators, Legislative Council members and staff at a Feb. 16 State Capitol health fair.
The event, sponsored by the Employees Retirement System of Texas, will be held from 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. in the Capitol rotunda. Local health care providers will conduct other screenings such as blood pressure, vision and hearing and blood glucose tests.
Cholesterol screening is important because high cholesterol is a major risk factor for coronary artery disease. Without screening, most people would never know their levels are too high because they do not have any symptoms.
High cholesterol levels are many times due to diet and lifestyle. If high cholesterol is indicated by the screening, nursing graduate students or faculty will recommend ways to lower levels and suggest a follow-up appointment with a primary care health provider.
