WASHINGTON — Free health screenings for common conditions are available Saturday at Walmart stores nationwide.
The screenings will check blood glucose, blood pressure, body mass index and vision at stores with vision centers.
Checking blood sugar-glucose, for example, might help save your eyesight because high sugar levels impact the small veins of the body — like those in your eyes — and you might not notice what’s happening.
“So, it’s critically important we catch that earlier,” versus later, said Shelley Weldon, a market director for Walmart’s Health and Wellness division, who oversees 14 area stores.
Another dangerous condition you don’t notice is high blood pressure.
“When you’re just normally walking around shopping, your blood pressure should be pretty low. So if it’s high, we want to get that checked, follow up with your doctor and see if we have any cholesterol issues or other things we need to tackle,” Weldon said.
Low cost immunizations are also available at Walmart Wellness Day.
“Eighteen and older, no prescription necessary; 8 to 18, we need a prescription,” Weldon said. “And we bill all major insurance plans.”
Walmart offers travel-related immunizations and regular immunizations offering protection against ailments such as pneumonia, tetanus and hepatitis. Also offered is the SHINGRIX vaccine that just came out this year and protects people 50 and older against shingles.
“We’ll be talking about healthy living, healthy products and digital engagement projects to help you make sure you’re digitally engaged to your health,” Weldon said.
Explaining what she means by “digital engagement,” Weldon said you can set up a pharmacy profile online, see prescriptions you need to get filled, renew them with a click of a button, walk up to the pharmacy, skip the line, scan a code, pick up your prescription and “walk on by.”
The Walmart Wellness Day is Saturday, April 21 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Find a local Walmart store here.