In-Club thyroid screenings available to women Saturday, October 8, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
BENTONVILLE, Ark., Sept. 27, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — In support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Sam’s Club is offering free women’s health screenings to aid members in taking charge of their health. Few women are aware that thyroid disease can often be a symptom of other health issues and lead to serious conditions including cancer and infertility. On Saturday, October 8, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., every Sam’s Club with a pharmacy will offer all women*, members and non-members alike, free and simple tests that check thyroid health.
Thyroid disease affects millions of people in the U.S., most of whom are women. The disease causes the body to use energy either more slowly or quickly than it should, causing weight loss or gain, hot or cold flashes or drastic changes in energy level. Many people who have thyroid problems do not know until they are tested.
“The estimated number of people with undiagnosed thyroid disease may be 10 percent. For women, the risk is even higher. A woman faces as high as a one in five chance of developing thyroid problems during her lifetime, and that risk increases with age and for those with a family history of thyroid problems,” said Jill Turner-Mitchael, senior vice president, Sam’s Club Health and Wellness. “Our free thyroid screenings are a quick and easy way for women to make sure their bodies are functioning and will continue to function in a healthy way.”
The free screenings will include a TSH test (a simple test for thyroid disorders), blood pressure and BMI tests, typically valued up to $150 per person. During the screenings, Sam’s Club pharmacies will also offer free samples of women’s health-related products and awareness information.