The HRRMC Health Fair is coming Saturday, April 23, 6:30 a.m. to noon, to the hospital's main campus, 1000 Rush Dr., Salida. Anyone 18 and older may participate in the fair's free and low-cost health screenings.
Free blood-sugar tests are available to participants to help determine if they are prediabetic, or at risk for developing diabetes. Prediabetes is identified when your blood sugar level is higher than normal but not high enough yet to be diagnosed as Type 2 diabetes. According to the Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention, 86 million adults in the U.S. have prediabetes, and 9 out of 10 people with prediabetes do not know they have it.
In order for blood-sugar test results to be accurate, avoid eating before this screening. Diabetes prevalence has reached an epidemic level in the U.S. The American Diabetes Association reports that more than 29.1 million Americans, or 9.3 percent of the population, have diabetes.
Other free screenings available at the HRRMC Health Fair include vision, chiropractic, body composition, blood pressure, pulmonary, skin, mental health, postural and nutrition.
The HRRMC Health Fair also offers five basic low-cost screenings including blood chemistry ($30), PSA ($25), hemoglobin Alc ($25), blood count ($15), and vitamin D ($40). To preregister for the low-cost screenings, go to hrrmc.com and click on the "HRRMC Health Fair" button at the bottom of the home page. Preregistration is not required but will save participants the time required to register on the day of the fair.
To ensure accurate results for the blood chemistry test, a 12-hour fast (no food) is recommended prior to the blood draw. Fasting is not necessary for the other low-cost screening tests. Diabetics should not fast. All participants should drink water and take their regular medication.
The HRRMC café will have breakfast burritos and other food and drink options available for purchase 7:30 - 10:30 a.m. They will reopen for lunch between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
Attending the HRRMC Health Fair does not replace a regular checkup with your physician, and participants are advised to make an appointment with their primary care provider to interpret test results. For questions about the Health Fair, contact Jon Fritz at (719) 530-2057 or visit hrrmc.com.
