CVS is running a complimentary program that might just help protect your health.
Through December, the nationwide pharmacy chain is providing no-cost health screenings — services that typically cost over $100 — at select locations. In addition, participants will receive a $5 coupon redeemable on store-brand products simply for taking part.
The initiative, launched in 2006, is called Project Health. A company spokesperson explains the program’s goal is to help people uncover health issues and risk factors they may not have otherwise addressed.
When and Where You Can Get a Free Health Check
CVS Pharmacy stores in 11 major metropolitan regions are offering complimentary screenings for the following:
- Body mass index (to gauge risk for hypertension and cardiovascular conditions)
- Blood pressure (to assess risk for heart disease and stroke)
- Glucose (to check for potential diabetes)
- Total cholesterol (to evaluate risk for clogged arteries, heart disease and stroke)
The screenings are offered Thursdays through Sundays at rotating CVS locations in these metropolitan areas:
- Atlanta
- Boston–Rhode Island
- Chicago
- Dallas–Fort Worth
- Detroit
- Houston
- Los Angeles
- Miami
- New York City
- Philadelphia
- Washington, D.C.
No appointment is necessary.
The screenings run through Dec. 16.
Visit this page to confirm if a store in your area is participating. And be sure to request your $5 coupon after completing the tests.
Why Routine Health Screenings Matter
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that regular medical exams and screenings can detect problems earlier, when treatment is more likely to succeed.
“By getting the appropriate health services, screenings and treatments, you’re taking actions that improve your odds of living a longer, healthier life,” the CDC states.
CVS reports that people screened through Project Health have shown considerably higher rates of elevated blood pressure, body mass index, glucose and cholesterol than the CDC’s estimates for the general population.
Walmart is also hosting a scaled-back version of a similar wellness event this month — without free glucose or cholesterol testing — for a single day. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sept. 22. Visit your neighborhood Walmart to have your blood pressure and body mass index measured during what the retailer calls Walmart Wellness Day. (Walmart holds additional wellness events at other times throughout the year.)
Sandra Mitchell is a health editor at Savinly. She also covers wellness topics.
