Iowa State students and faculty have a chance to live healthier lives with an inexpensive cholesterol check on campus.

The Student Health Center will be conducting cholesterol screening on Sept. 27-28 and Oct. 2-6 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The cost of the test is $9.50.

Mary Engstrom, supervisor of health education and wellness, said the cholesterol test is a fast and effective way to become aware of possibly dangerous cholesterol levels. The test, which requires a 10-hour fast beforehand, involves giving a sample of blood and waiting 7 to 10 days for the results. There is no interaction with a doctor about the results.

Engstrom said there are three levels of cholesterol classification. The most desirable level is a count of 200 or below. A level of 200-239 is considered borderline and a count of 240-plus is high risk.

Dr. Robert Patterson, director of the Student Health Center, said cholesterol is lipid fat in the blood system. It is a vital part of one’s metabolism, but if levels are too high, it can be dangerous.

“High cholesterol can clog arteries,” Patterson said. “The fat starts sticking on the walls of the arteries and begins to build up. It is a lot like rust inside a pipe.”

Buildup can lead to artery disease, heart attacks, strokes and other health problems, Patterson said.

If caught early, high cholesterol can be managed and lowered, but changes are required in diet and exercise, Engstrom said. Reducing saturated fat intake by reading labels on food, increasing dietary fiber intake and decreasing alcohol consumption are also necessary.

Engstrom added that losing weight, if a person is obese, can also lead to lower cholesterol levels. One of the most important treatments for high cholesterol is exercise, Engstrom said.

Aerobic exercise for 45 minutes at a time, two to three times a week can decrease cholesterol levels.