American Family Care to Offer Free Cholesterol Tests for Father's Day

BIRMINGHAM, Ala., June 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- American Family Care (AFC), the nation's leading provider of urgent care, occupational medicine and accessible primary care, announced today that it will be offering men across the country a complimentary cholesterol check on Father's Day. The nationwide effort is a follow-on to AFC's recently launched "Man Up Checkup" – a health screening developed specifically for men.

AFC is offering the complementary cholesterol checks in conjunction with National Men's Health Week, which is recognized by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) each year during the week leading up to Father's Day. Underlining the importance of the effort is a recently released survey by the Cleveland Clinic, which found:

• 60% of American men don't go for an annual physical
• Guys would rather talk about sports or their jobs than discuss anything to do with their health
• 19% of men admit going to the doctor so their significant other will stop nagging
• Among their biggest concerns, men ranked their family's well-being and financial security over health

While all people over age 20 should get their cholesterol checked regularly, according to the CDC, only about 75 percent of them do. To address this, AFC clinics are offering the complimentary cholesterol checks Sunday, June 18.  Additionally, the Man Up Checkup is being offered seven days a week, and without an appointment. The health screening features eight quick, simple tests that can help identify preventative measures for illnesses — including heart disease, the leading cause of premature death in men in the U.S. Specifically, the Man Up Checkup includes:

• Epworth Sleepiness Scale
• Pulse
• Oxygen Saturation Levels
• Temperature
• Blood Pressure
• Weight, Height, and Body Mass Index
• Hemoglobin A1c, to screen for diabetes
• Lipid Panel, including cholesterol and more

Often because of their busy lifestyles and fear of going to the doctor, men have become the most neglected group in society from a health care standpoint. "Many men put everything in their lives ahead of their health, including their families, jobs and sometimes even their hobbies – but they have it backwards. If men put their health first, they would be better able to take care of their families and careers," says D. Bruce Irwin, M.D., founder and CEO of American Family Care.  "We created the Man Up Checkup to make it as easy as possible for men to do the right thing — to take care of themselves, so that they can tackle all of the responsibilities they face each day."

About American Family Care:
Founded by Dr. Bruce Irwin with a single location in 1982, American Family Care has pioneered the concept of non-emergency room urgent care. With its 2013 acquisition of the Doctors Express, AFC has become the nation's leading provider of urgent care, accessible primary care, and occupational medicine, with more than 180 clinics and 600 in-network physicians caring for nearly 3 million patients a year. Ranked by Inc. Magazine as one of the fastest growing companies in the U.S., AFC's stated mission is to provide the best healthcare possible, in a kind and caring environment, while respecting the rights of all patients, in an economical manner, at times and locations convenient to the patient. For more information, visit www.AmericanFamilyCare.com.

SOURCE American Family Care