AFMC promotes wellness screening campaign

  • Published
  • By Air Force Materiel Command Wellness Support Center
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio --  Throughout December and January, Air Force Materiel Command will be promoting the "Do You Know Your Numbers" wellness campaign. This campaign aims to raise awareness of the importance of knowing your numbers to help prevent chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular disease.

"To better understand their health status, it is helpful for individuals to know how they compare to recommended health indicators," said AFMC's Wellness Coordinator Greg Chadwick. "These indicators are a list of 'numbers' -- blood pressure, good and bad cholesterol, blood glucose and body mass index are all numbers that help individuals identify their own health status."

The goal of the campaign is to increase participation in Cardio Risk Profile screenings and educate individuals on how risk factors impact their health, with particular attention given to those risk factors that can be improved by changes in lifestyle behavior. Early identification and management of risk factors can help individuals stay healthy and live a long, productive life.

The CRP wellness screening is available through Civilian Health Promotion Services and is free to all Department of Defense (appropriated fund) AFMC civilian employees.

Locally at Hanscom, CRP wellness screenings will take place Dec. 12 from 7 to 9 a.m. in the Building 1614 lobby, Dec. 18 from 6:30 to 9 a.m. at the Hanscom Conference Center in the Lincoln Room and Jan. 15 from 7 to 9 a.m. in the Building 1614 lobby.

Walk-in CRP screenings are also offered each Thursday from noon to 2 p.m. and Fridays from 8 to 10 a.m. in the Health and Wellness Center.

"We recommend a four-hour minimum fast for all of our CRPs to get the most accurate results," said Orlagh Pawlyk, CHPS coordinator. "That being said, participants could still eat breakfast on a Thursday and come to the afternoon walk-in screening and grab lunch afterwards."

In addition to the free CRP screenings, Hanscom CHPS will offer a "Cholesterol Education and Understanding Your CRP" class Dec. 19 from noon to 1 p.m. in the Brown Building conference room. This class will discuss the implications of high cholesterol, ways to lower cholesterol and what the CRP numbers actually mean.

For more information regarding CRP screenings, contact Pawlyk at 781-225-6377 or Orlagh.Pawlyk.ctr@hanscom.af.mil, or visit www.afmcwellness.com.