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Wal-Mart, Sam's Club Get Heart-healthy in February

BENTONVILLE, Ark. – Wal-Mart and Sam's Club pharmacies will offer complimentary cholesterol and blood pressure screenings as part of two Healthy Heart Community Events this month to raise awareness of the nation's No. 1 killer -- heart disease.

Visitors will also receive samples of heart-healthy products and educational information to help them identify, manage, and reduce the risk factors for heart disease. Bayer HealthCare, the maker of Bayer Aspirin and One-A-Day Multivitamins, and Novartis, Inc., the maker of Benefiber and BP Success Zone, are the lead sponsors of the event.

The Healthy Heart event will be held at all U.S. Wal-Mart stores on Saturday, Feb. 19 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with screenings available from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sam's Club pharmacies will also participate, offering the event to members and nonmembers on Friday, Feb. 18 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with screenings available from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Representatives from such companies as Bayer HealthCare, Novartis, Inc., McNeil Healthcare and Specialty Pharmaceuticals, Wyeth, Kellogg's, General Mills, Coca-Cola North America, PepsiCo Beverages and Foods, Promise Spread, and Cadbury Schweppes Americas Beverages will be on hand to help educate shoppers about how to identify, manage, and reduce the risk factors for heart disease.

February is designated American Heart Month. Every day more than 930 Americans die from sudden cardiac arrest in the United States, according to the American Heart Association.

This is the second year in a row that Wal-Mart has hosted the Healthy Heart event to raise awareness of the often silent symptoms of heart disease. Last year Wal-Mart was able to reach more than 1.7 million people nationwide with its Healthy Heart Community Event, the company said.

Wal-Mart said the event is one of many healthy-living initiatives Wal-Mart and Sam's Club have planned throughout 2005.
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