With Valentine’s Day fast approaching, the University wants to make sure your heart isn’t broken.

To commemorate and publicize American Heart Month, the University Health Center is offering cholesterol screenings — free for students and $10 for faculty and staff.

Screenings began this week.

Though the common belief is only older adults should worry about cholesterol, Angie Ruhlen, a Health Center nutritionist, said this is not the case.

“One out of 10 students may be walking around [with high cholesterol and triglycerides],” she said.

 According to the National Institute of Health Web site, everyone aged 20 or older should have their cholesterol measured at least once every five years.

High cholesterol and triglyceride levels, which can result from a diet high in saturated fat, a lack of physical activity or obesity, lead to increased risk of heart disease, stroke and plaque in the arteries, Ruhlen said. 

Age, gender and heredity factors also affect cholesterol levels.

But Ruhlen said by offering free screenings, the Health Center encourages students to “practice a heart-healthy lifestyle.”

“If you change your lifestyle now, you can help prevent heart disease later in life,” Ruhlen said.

Students don’t seem to be concerned about their cholesterol readings, though.

When asked if she worried about her cholesterol levels, Katie Hemby, a junior from Marietta, said she doesn’t.

“I watch what I eat, and I work out,” she said.

Hemby also said she would not get her cholesterol screened because she already has her own doctor at home.

Tommy Beyer, a sophomore from Alpharetta, said he is not anxious about his cholesterol, saying he runs on a regular basis.

But this won’t stop him from going to the Health Center.

“I would go in a break between two classes on campus,” he said. “It’s a free service, and there’s no reason not to.”

In order to ensure accurate lab results, students who choose to get their cholesterol tested must stop eating at 12 a.m. the day before they are screened, Ruhlen said.

No appointment is necessary. Students can simply walk in and  get screened. The Health Center will mail the results to the student.

There is also a video uploaded to the Health Center Web site describing how to interpret the cholesterol findings.

“[We are] trying to be more approachable to students and how they learn,” Ruhlen said.

The cholesterol screenings take place at the Health Center from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. They continue tomorrow and Feb. 15 through 18.