South Bay Has Two More Chances for Free Health Screenings by Sharp

Sharp HealthCare will host a variety of free health screenings throughout the county, including in the South Bay, in hopes of arming 5,000 local residents with information about their blood pressure, and blood sugar and cholesterol levels, reports KPBS.

Chula Vista will host the screenings beginning Monday and Tuesday, Aug. 19-20 at the Parkway Community Center, 340 Park Way. Health professionals will be available to test people from 3 - 7 p.m.

For listings of the 60 sites throughout San Diego County where testing is to take place, see Sharp's website.

The screenings, according to KPBS, will take about 15 minutes and include questions about health histories, a brief pin prick to draw blood and a weigh in. Sharp offered the service in-house and 10,000 employees opted to participate.

It is estimated, KPBS reports, that $340 billion is spent each year to combat the health effects of obesity and high blood pressure.

Sharp's screenings, according to president and CEO Mike Murphy, may drive consumers who “need to be held  accountable to their healthcare choices.”