Healthy Living Briefs

Free stroke screening at Cowden Center Free Stroke Screenings will take place May 28 and 28 at John C. Lincoln–North Mountain Hospital. Registered nurses will conduct the screenings from 7 a.m. to noon in Barb’s Conference Room, Cowden Center, 9202 N. 3rd St. Although the screenings are free, appointments are required and will be scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis for those who call the Cowden Center at 602-870-6300. The 15-minute screenings include completion of a medical history form, blood pressure check and a physical evaluation by a nurse. The nurse will use a stethoscope to listen to flood flow in the carotid (neck) artery to check for sounds of plaque buildup. Excess plaque causes a distinctive sound called a “bruit” and is a significant risk factor for stroke. Two board-certified neurologists, Michele Scott, DO, and Sandra Kuniyoshi, MD, will be available to counsel those who show high risk factors for stroke. Those who have fasted for 12 hours prior to the stroke screening will be eligible for a free cholesterol check, normally a $25 test. While waiting for cholesterol test results, participants may watch a 15-minute educational video on stroke risk factors, prevention, symptom recognition and the need to act quickly if stroke symptoms are experienced. For more information about stroke, visit www.JCL.com/stroke. Free blood pressure screenings at CVS CVS/pharmacy will be holding free blood pressure and cholesterol screenings during the month of May, no appointment necessary. The screenings will provide results within minutes. Following is a list of local blood pressure and cholesterol screenings locations in the North Central community; all events takes place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Visit CVS.com to get more information about these events: • 1850 W. Dunlap Ave., Monday, May 5 • 10 E. Dunlap Ave., Monday, May 12 • 4040 N. 19th Ave., Monday, May 19 • 1610 E. Camelback Road, Monday, May 19 • 6002 N. 7th St., Friday, May 30 Note: for best results in the cholesterol check, it’s better to not have eaten at least 12 hours before the test—so plan on being there at 10 a.m. and try not to eat breakfast first. Free guide offers tips to manage allergies A special-edition Zagat Survey guide offers people with seasonal and year-round allergies an insider’s view of the most exciting outdoor destinations in 20 U.S. cities including Phoenix—and tips on how to manage their allergy symptoms so they can enjoy being outside. The free guide, available at http://www.outandaboutwithallergies.com, features reviews of popular and off-the-beaten-path outdoor destinations in Phoenix.  The Phoenix metropolitan is ranked as one of the most challenging places to live with spring allergies, according to the most recent Spring Allergy Capitals Survey. Zagat Survey, the leading publisher of consumer-based leisure content, and GlaxoSmithKline, maker of the allergy medication Veramyst™ (fluticasone furoate) Nasal Spray, created Out & About with Allergies: An Insider's Guide to Enjoying the City. The guide covers chic restaurants with outdoor dining and rooftop bars as well as secluded gardens and walking paths in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Cincinnati, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Denver, Houston, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Orlando/Tampa, Philadelphia, Phoenix/Scottsdale, Salt Lake City, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle and Washington, D.C. Out & About with Allergies also features useful tips for managing seasonal and year-round allergy symptoms.