Just as the bus that you don’t see bearing down on you is the one that’ll hit you, so too could a hidden health problem be the one to really hurt you.
To help unmask any health issues, the Stanford Prevention Research Center is holding a free public health screening and recruitment fair on the Stanford campus Sept. 15 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The goal of the event is to help people assess their health status in several key areas for which preventive measures can head off a potential problem, said Christopher Gardner, PhD, assistant professor of medicine and one of the event organizers. In other words, it’s easier to bring slightly elevated blood pressure under control than it is to repair the damage after a stroke.
Free screenings for cholesterol levels, blood glucose and blood pressure will be offered, with immediate results. Attendees can also undergo a computerized analysis to assess their level of risk for a host of other health conditions, based upon their personal history and habits.
The Stanford Prevention Research Center studies different approaches to preventing the health problems that often accompany our modern lifestyle, and then turns the findings into useable information for the general public.
Medical doctors, health educators, nutritionists and alternative health practitioners will be available at the event. Throughout the day there will be brief talks given on different health issues, with handouts relating to disease prevention methods.
The SPRC Web site lists all talks and times, as well as information on making an appointment if you want to be tested at a specific time, though an appointment isn’t required to be tested, Gardner said.
There will also be information available on some of the different clinical studies being conducted by the SPRC, for which researchers are seeking additional volunteers.
The fair will be at Hoover Pavilion, 211 Quarry Road, across the street from the multilevel parking structure of the Stanford Shopping Center, on the southeast corner. Parking is free. To reserve a testing time, call (650) 725-3080. Further information is available at the SPRC Web site: http://ppop.stanford.edu/healthfair.html.
Stanford University Medical Center integrates research, medical education and patient care at its three institutions — Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford Hospital & Clinics and Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford. For more information, please visit the Web site of the medical center’s Office of Communication & Public Affairs at http://mednews.stanford.edu.