Walgreens' Way to Well blood-pressure test pledge could net AHA $100,000

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens on Monday promised to donate $1 to the American Heart Association, up to $100,000, for each complimentary blood-pressure test conducted in February at a Walgreens pharmacy or Take Care Clinic. The push behind the initiatives is a part of Walgreens' Way to Well Commitment, a four-year, $100 million commitment to disease prevention and to improving everyday health through education and early detection of today’s leading diseases, including cancer, diabetes and heart disease.



“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,” stated 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.”



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% of those people testing out of the desired range.

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