Building healthier communities through screenings

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many people missed necessary screenings due to a variety of reasons.

Health screenings are an important part of maintaining good health, especially as you get older.

Many unnecessary deaths could be prevented with simple, regular health screenings as recommended by their doctor. Health screenings can detect problems early when chances for successful treatment are greatest.

During the quarterly health and fitness fair set for Saturday, July 16, from 7-10 a.m., participants will have a chance to get these screenings and more at affordable prices.

Screenings include bone density, complete blood count, pulmonary function test, blood type, cholesterol and lipid profile, complete chemistry profile, hemoglobin A1C, prostate specific antigen, B-12 level, folate level (folic acid), thyroid profile, total and free testosterone level, vitamin D level, low-dose lung CT screening, peripheral arterial disease screenings, stroke screening/carotid artery and abdominal aneurysm screenings.

Why are these important?

Blood tests can tell a lot about what’s going on in the body. Some blood tests can help your doctor determine how different organs in your body are working, such as thyroid, liver or kidneys.

Blood tests can also search for markers of diseases and health conditions such as diabetes, HIV, anemia, cancer and coronary heart disease in its early stages.

A complete blood count (CBC) checks for levels of 10 different components of white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets. Abnormal levels of any of those components can indicate nutritional deficiencies, anemia, clotting problems, blood cancer, infection and immune system disorders.

A lipid panel checks the levels of two types of cholesterol: HDL, the “good” cholesterol, and LDL, the “bad” cholesterol. Knowing these numbers can help prevent heart disease.

A thyroid panel checks how well your thyroid is producing and reacting to certain hormones. The thyroid helps regulate bodily functions like your mood, energy level and overall metabolism.

Another blood test is the PSA test, which measures the amount of prostate-specific antigen in your blood. PSA is a protein produced by both cancerous and non-cancerous tissue in the prostate. High levels of PSA may indicate the presence of prostate cancer.

Vascular screenings can find obstacles in the veins that are preventing them from doing their job. Those obstacles include plaque buildup, blockages or aneurysms, which can cause heart attacks and strokes.

“We offer these screenings at discounted prices for everyone to be able to have access to them,” said Paul Korth, Cookeville Regional CEO. “It’s our mission to build healthier communities and this is one way we can do that.”

Limited appointments are available. Call 931-783-2743 or register online at https://tinyurl.com/3v32wb38.

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