Mark your calendars—we are bringing health screenings back!
Island Health Education has been working hard behind the scenes to bring preventative health screenings back to our community. Keep reading to learn more about what we will be offering this summer. Health screenings are a form of preventative medicine and allow for early detection of certain conditions and diseases. These are often very simple procedures that are key in keeping people of all ages healthy.

Health Screening Event: Get your cholesterol, A1C and vitamin D levels tested from a single blood draw!
Tuesday, June 6^th 8 a.m.–12 p.m., $100

• Cholesterol: Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance made by your liver and is essential for good health. Your body needs it to perform important jobs, such as making hormones and digesting fatty foods. However, too much cholesterol can lead to a buildup of plaque in arteries which can lead to heart disease and stroke if left untreated. High cholesterol has no symptoms, so it is important to get tested to check your cholesterol levels in order to stay healthy and minimize your risk of heart issues.
• A1C: The A1C test is a common blood test used to diagnose prediabetes and Type 2 diabetes. An A1C test result shows your average blood sugar level for the past two to three months. The higher your A1C level, the poorer your blood sugar control and the higher your risk of diabetes complications. If you’re living with diabetes, this test is also used to monitor how well you’re managing blood sugar levels.
• Vitamin D: Vitamin D is essential for healthy bones and teeth. It also helps keep your muscles, nerves and immune system working normally. Having low levels of vitamin D is a common problem, especially in the Pacific Northwest, that can lead to bone disorders and other medical problems. Vitamin D testing can let you know if you need to increase your vitamin D levels.

Lung Function Screening
Tuesday, July 18^th 9 a.m.–12 p.m., $25

Spirometry Test: Spirometry is a kind of breathing test. It is used to check how well your lungs work by assessing how much air you breathe in and out. It also looks at how much air you can quickly exhale. This test can help diagnose lung diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD), asthma, cystic fibrosis and interstitial lung disease.

In addition to these summer screening events, we also have health education classes on a diverse range of health topics! Join us to learn from our experts at one or all of these programs.

• Smoking, Vaping and THC: What You Need to Know
  Thursday, June 1^st 5 p.m. ($10)

• Hospice 101, presented by Hospice of the Northwest
  Monday, June 5^th 10:30 a.m. (FREE)

• Dietary Strategies for Managing High Cholesterol
  Wednesday, June 7^th 10 a.m. ($10)

• Living Better with Diabetes
  Wednesday, June 7^th 11:30 a.m. ($10)

• Men’s Health
  Monday, June 12^th 1pm ($10)

• Living Well with COPD
  Tuesday, June 20^th 1 p.m. ($10)

We will not be accepting insurance as a form of payment for these screening events; however, we are offering them at a significantly reduced price when compared to paying out-of-pocket for these tests at a clinic. Pre-payment and registration are required.

These programs are supported by the Island Health Foundation. Visit our website to register and view our full program listings, or call Health Education to register over the phone, 360.299.4204.