Walgreens Offering Free Blood Pressure Testing at All Pharmacies and Take Care Clinics Throughout February for American Heart Month

Published on Wednesday, 01 February 2012 08:39 Written by TradersHuddle Staff

DEERFIELD, Ill.-( Business Wire )-

Prevention and early detection of today’s leading diseases are the pillars of Walgreens Way to Well Commitment™, a health initiative that in February brings free blood pressure testing to all Walgreens (NYSE: WAG) (NASDAQ: WAG) pharmacies and Take Care Clinics nationwide, every day throughout the month.

More than 76 million U.S. adults have high blood pressure, according to the American Heart Association. High blood pressure is a contributor to heart disease, one of the nation’s leading causes of death each year. Walgreens is offering free testing to encourage more people to “know their numbers.”

“Hypertension can be managed or controlled through early detection, which is why it’s so important for people to regularly have their blood pressure checked and monitored,” said Kermit Crawford, Walgreens president of pharmacy, health and wellness. “Health tests are one of the many services our pharmacists and Take Care Clinic nurse practitioners and physician assistants offer while working to educate more people about simple, preventive steps to managing their health and helping them stay well.”

As part of its Way to Well Commitment, Walgreens will donate $1 for each blood pressure test conducted during February to the American Heart Association, up to $100,000. The Walgreens Way to Well Commitment™ is a four-year, $100 million commitment to disease prevention and to improving everyday health through education and early detection of today’s leading diseases – cancer, diabetes and heart disease.

Tests are not done for diagnostic or treatment purposes, and individuals are advised to share their test results with their primary care physician.

Walgreens also offered free blood pressure testing at all stores and Take Care Clinics throughout February 2011. During that time, more than 32,000 blood pressure tests were conducted with more than 50 percent of those people testing out of the desired range.

About Walgreens

Walgreens (www.walgreens.com) is the nation's largest drugstore chain with fiscal 2011 sales of $72 billion. The company operates 7,818 drugstores in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Each day, Walgreens provides nearly 6 million customers the most convenient, multichannel access to consumer goods and services and trusted, cost-effective pharmacy, health and wellness services and advice in communities across America. Walgreens scope of pharmacy services includes retail, specialty, infusion, medical facility and mail service, along with respiratory services. These services improve health outcomes and lower costs for payers including employers, managed care organizations, health systems, pharmacy benefit managers and the public sector. Take Care Health Systems is a Walgreens subsidiary that is the largest and most comprehensive manager of worksite health and wellness centers and in-store convenient care clinics, with more than 700 locations throughout the country.

WalgreensJim Cohn(847) 315-2950http://news.walgreens.com