The Walgreens Wellness Tour Launches in Atlanta for a Second Year to Provide Free Health Screenings and Services

DEERFIELD, Ill., Oct. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Many diseases can be detected through screenings long before any symptoms are noticed, making awareness the key to remaining healthy. To help, the Walgreens Wellness Tour launched its second year of crossing the country to provide a variety of free services and screenings for the entire family. The Walgreens Wellness Tour, a customized traveling education and health-screening vehicle, is on a 70-city, 12-month nationwide health screening tour. The vehicle features free screenings for total cholesterol levels, blood pressure, bone density, glucose levels and body mass index.

The tour aims to bring free screening services and better health awareness to local communities throughout the United States and Puerto Rico. Each visitor is invited to take all five screenings, which are more than a $100 value. Last year the tour performed nearly 68,000 screenings. In the 45 cities the tour visited, 64% of the people who took the bone density screening received a negative score. Low bone density scores can lead to decreased bone strength and increased risk of fracture.

The five screenings available are: Total Cholesterol Screening:

The National Cholesterol Education Program recommends that adults have their cholesterol levels checked at least every five years. However, more than half of Americans are unaware of their cholesterol score. Recent studies have shown lowering cholesterol can reduce the risk of heart disease. Through a finger stick blood test, participants are given their total cholesterol level. They're also provided with educational material on healthy cholesterol levels and ways to lower their cholesterol.

Glucose Screening:

Glucose is a form of sugar that is the body's primary fuel; glucose broken down from food can be converted into energy or stored. Blood glucose levels may indicate risk for diabetes, a disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin. Insulin is a hormone that is needed to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy. Visitors will be given their glucose level, via finger stick blood test, and information on diabetes awareness.

Blood Pressure Screening:

High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is a serious condition affecting one in four American adults. High blood pressure increases the risk for heart disease and stroke, which is the leading cause of death in the United States. Among people with high blood pressure, 70 percent do not have their condition under control. Visitors will receive their blood pressure reading and educational materials.

Bone Density Screening:

Osteoporosis is a disease that slowly thins and weakens bones. Ten million Americans are estimated to have the disease, and almost 34 million more are estimated to have low bone mass. Bone density testing is the best way to determine bone mass and reveal present and future risk of fracture. The screening is done via foot ultrasound and takes 60 seconds with immediate results.

Body Mass Index:

Body fat, not weight, is the better measure of one's health and fitness. Visitors will be given a percentage of body fat reading using a body mass index analyzer, a hand-held machine that sends a weak electric current through the body and then estimates body fat percentage and body fat index.

Walgreens Wellness Tour launch Monday, October 3, 2005 1:00 PM-5:00 PM Walgreens 2988 Shallowford Rd. Marrietta, GA 30066

Walgreen Co. is the nation's largest drugstore chain with fiscal 2005 sales of $42.2 billion. The company operates more than 4,900 stores in 45 states and Puerto Rico and plans to open about 475 new stores in fiscal 2006. Walgreens also provides additional services to pharmacy patients and prescription drug and medical plans through Walgreens Health Initiatives (a pharmacy benefits manager), Walgreens Mail Service, Walgreens Specialty Pharmacy and Walgreens Home Care.