Unfortunately it seems that even though heart disease is one of the biggest health threats we face today too many people are completely unaware of what their cholesterol levels are and what they should be doing about it. So in an effort to help educate people, and in honor of National Cholesterol Education Month, Polymer Technology Systems (PTS) will be offering free cholesterol screenings nationwide throughout the month of September. Find out your cholesterol numbers and get great info on steps you can start taking today at Kroger Pharmacy locations all throughout this month and at Sam's Club stores on September 15th. They'll be using the handy hand-held CardioChek gadget and giving information on where you can get one of your own if you want to keep track at home. Here's to good health!

Humans are not the only beings who are fighting the battle of the bulge. In the United Kingdom nearly half of all household dogs and cats are classified as overweight or obese. The problem has grown such that Joe Inglis, a TV vet, has launched a website specifically aimed at helping owners and their pets find solutions to the weight problem.

The website, called Pets Get Slim, has facts about pet obesity and hints to help curb food intake. Inglis is excited about the site, saying, "Whether your pet is obese or slightly overweight - it matters. A weight problem can affect a pet's quality of life and lead to straining of the joints, causing arthritis, as well as internal illnesses like diabetes, liver disease and heart disease."

Helping your pet get back in shape is not only healthy four your small best friend, but it can also help the family members get in shape. Taking the family dog for a walk rather than sitting in front of the television is a help for everybody. For more information, visit the site and check out more facts.

Fitting in a trip to the doctor's office is so vital, but sometimes it's hard to find the time -- or the courage to face the truth about your symptoms. If you don't have a chance to visit an MD in person, visit one online with Health Check USA. You can order a number of important tests, from CBCs (complete blood counts) to heart checks, from DNA tests to STD tests. When you order a test (at competitive pricing, no less), you're sent a kit with all the instructions on how to collect the necessary samples. Then you simply send it back to the lab and are given the results over the phone.

I think it's a good idea to take charge when it comes to your health, but it seems so strange to me that you can go ahead and order these kinds of tests without having face to face contact with your doctor. What do you think?

As consumers, we compare the prices, efficiency, and reliability of many products before buying. Now it's possible to compare the quality of the hospital you use for your heart care needs. The U.S. government recently finished ranking U.S. hospitals based on their treatment of heart failure and heart attacks. The good news is that most of the 4,700 health centers met the national average for patient care, and you can now go online to see how hospitals in your area ranked.

The new website lists mortality rates for each hospital and how they compare to the national average. Besides ranking hospitals, U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services -- the organization behind the project -- also offers programs to help hospitals who rank poorly improve the quality of their services.

The new service highlights a change in direction for Medicare. Michael Leavitt, Secretary of U.S. DHHS, says that the service is important "because for most of its history, Medicare has been paying for services, but not paying for results." Experts are hopeful that this will help patients find the hospital that best fits their needs and will give health care centers an extra "push" to improve their care. If you'd like to read more, Brian wrote about the online service over at our health and fitness blog, That's Fit.

I always love a story about the unusual or fantastical aspects of life. One such story I recently encountered entails a study revealing that African-American men who frequent barbershops are more apt to seek treatment for hypertension than those who do not.

An eight-month study conducted by Dr. Paul L. Hess of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas revealed that black men who are faithful barbershop attendees are more open and willing to control their high blood pressure. The study also concluded that the barbers might be a perfect venue for hypertension education and monitoring for their clients.

Although this study is a bit off the beaten path, it gets to the core of many communities that traditional medical efforts might not effectively reach. Since many barbershops in African-American communities are social gathering places as well as places of business, they present a perfect opportunity to spread the word about high blood pressure in a population where nearly 40% of the men suffer from hypertension.

The American Heart Association offers an online grocery list builder that allows you to create a shopping list of heart-healthy foods. You can browse by manufacturer or category -- Beverages; Biscuit & Bread Mixes; Breakfast Foods; Soups; Cheeses; Egg Substitutes; Flavored Milks; Soy Milk; Yogurts; Yogurt Drinks; Deli Meat; Desserts; Frozen Foods; Fruits & Vegetables; Meat & Poultry; Pasta, Sauces & Grains; Seafood and Snacks. You can even customize the list by adding items you know to be heart healthy.

Each item listed by manufacturer or category is a food item bearing the heart-check mark. Once you are done creating your grocery list online, simply print it out and take it with you on your next shopping trip. This is a new service and more items are being added, such as the recent addition of Eurofresh Campari Tomatoes; Kirkland Signature Premium Brisket Roast Beef and Milton's Healthy Multi-Grain Plus Bread.

Alas, no products are listed under the coffee category -- yet. But it looks like a very cool service and available for everyone who wants to use it.

With the newer iPod you can download music, photos and video. But the portable media player that has revolutionized how people listen to music and watch music videos is about to revolutionize the way health education information is distributed to patients, healthcare professionals, hospital administrators and scientists.

In a medical practice first, Arizona Heart Institute in Phoenix cardiovascular surgeon Grayson Wheatley, M.D., gives his patients iPods so they can hear and watch educational videos about exercise, diet and medical procedures related to heart health and heart disease. Because the information is downloaded into an iPod, Dr. Wheatley's patients can watch the three-to-five minute video more than once -- and because the iPod is portable, the patients can watch the video anytime, anywhere. The Arizona Heart Institute in Phoenix is the first medical institute to use iPod vodcasting for patients.

So, if you are thinking that this is a great idea but Dr. Wheatley is not your physician and you do not live anywhere near Phoenix -- that doesn't matter.

An American Heart Association survey revealed that US adults age 35 to 75 with high or borderline high cholesterol are not aware they are at increased risk for developing heart disease. The Cholesterol Low Down program is an national cholesterol educational campaign featuring expert advice from leading heart health experts and a step-by-step guide to learning your numbers and lifestyle strategies for lowering cholesterol.

What is cholesterol? According to the ADA's definition, cholesterol is a waxy substance made by the liver and also supplied in the diet through animal products such as meats, poultry, fish and dairy products. However, the body makes enough cholesterol, so dietary cholesterol isn't needed. The danger of developing heart disease occurs when there is too much cholesterol in the blood.

When you visit the Cholesterol Low Down program homepage, you can sign up for a free tips, recipes and expert advice on managing cholesterol.