Sam's Club® Offers Free Heart Health Screening Event

BENTONVILLE, Ark., Feb. 6, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Heart disease is the No. 1 cause of death in the United States and according to the America Heart Association, about every 25 seconds an American will experience a coronary event, such as a heart attack or stroke. A simple step to preventing cardiovascular disease is managing risk factors, including cholesterol, blood pressure and blood sugar levels. On Saturday, February 11 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Sam's Club ^® is helping members and guests take the first step to being heart healthy by offering free heart health screenings at every Sam's Club location with a pharmacy.

"With such high prevalence of heart disease in this country, at Sam's Club we feel it is important to raise awareness and educate our communities about this serious health concern," said Jill Turner-Mitchael, senior vice president, Sam's Club Health and Wellness. "In honor of February's Heart Health Awareness Month, Sam's Club health screenings offer individuals the opportunity to manage their heart health by first learning where they stand with several cardiovascular disease risk factors."

The free heart health screenings offered this month include total cholesterol, HDL, glucose*, body mass index (BMI) and blood pressure tests, typically valued at over $100. During the screenings, Sam's Club pharmacies will also offer free samples of related items.

"Tweeting" members and guests can learn more about heart health tips and guidelines on Wednesday, February 8 at 7 p.m. CST , visit @samsclub for a Twitter Chat Q&A on heart health. Five Twitter participants who tweet with #simplesavings and @samsclub will receive a "healthy heart's desire" prize pack. Members can also read more about basic lifestyle choices to stay heart healthy in the inaugural issue of Sam's Club "Healthy Living Made Simple" magazine, the first warehouse club publication dedicated to wellness for every member of the family. Healthy Living Made Simple magazine has a premier circulation of 8 million members (direct mail and in-club). To view the magazine online or for more information on times and locations of free health screenings in participating Sam's Club locations, visit SamsClub.com/healthyliving.

With more than 1 million free health and wellness screenings provided in U.S. Sam's Club locations since 2011, Sam's Club will continue to serve communities on March 10, 2012 with an allergy health screening. Further, Sam's Club licensed professional pharmacists are always available to support their communities with preventative health and wellness solutions, one on one smoking cessation counseling and low prices on the medications patients need. Contact your local club or visit SamsClub.com/healthyliving for participation information.

About Sam's Club ^®

Sam's Club ^®, a division of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT), is the nation's eighth largest retailer and a leading membership warehouse club offering superior products and services to more than 47 million members in clubs across the U.S., as well as in Brazil, China and Mexico. Members save an average of 30 percent over traditional retailers. To learn more about Savings Made Simple ^®, visit SamsClub.com, and look for Sam's Club on Twitter and Facebook.

*T ests are limited to the first 100 participants at each Club location. Cholesterol & Glucose testing not available in TN, MD and HI. Cholesterol testing not available in NJ. Glucose testing not available in PA.