BRAMPTON, ON, May 17, 2013 /CNW/ - TSX:L: Today pharmacists at Atlantic Superstore®, SaveEasy® and nofrills® locations are celebrating World Hypertension Day by reminding Canadians to have regular blood
pressure checks. In partnership with Hypertension Canada, pharmacists
at these locations recently introduced the Blood Pressure Check
Program, an easy, convenient option for consumers to better understand
how to manage their blood pressure. The program is exclusive to Loblaw
store pharmacies. Please visit http://www.drugstorepharmacy.ca/ to find a location.
Customers simply use the in-store machine to take two blood pressure
readings and participate in a personal consultation with the
pharmacist. During the consultation, the pharmacist reviews the data
from the readings along with other health information to provide
appropriate, personalized recommendations based on Hypertension
Canada's guidelines.
"Hypertension Canada is committed to working closely with like-minded
partner organizations such as Loblaw store pharmacists and the Blood
Pressure Check Program to deliver positive benefits to the 7.4 million
Canadians living with high blood pressure on a daily basis." says Judi
Farrell, CEO, Hypertension Canada. "It is through these programs that
we increase awareness of high blood pressure and empower Canadians to
make healthy lifestyle choices."
**What should Canadians know about hypertension?
-
Hypertension is the leading risk of premature death ahead of smoking and
infectious diseases
-
One in five Canadians have high blood pressure
-
Nine out of ten Canadians will get hypertension in their lifetime
-
70 per cent of strokes are caused by hypertension
-
High blood pressure can also cause heart attacks and heart and kidney
failure
"During the first month of the Blood Pressure Check Program more than
20,000 Canadians received consultations at pharmacies in Loblaw store
locations across the country," said Bobbi Reinholdt, pharmacist and
senior vice president, pharmacy, Loblaw Companies Limited. "Through
these consultations our pharmacists helped those at risk make positive
life changes including reducing sodium intake, increasing physical
activity and improving medication adherence."
For more information on the Blood Pressure Check Program and other
resources available at Loblaw store pharmacies, please visit http://www.drugstorepharmacy.ca/.
In addition, Loblaw banner stores have several other resources to help
Canadians live healthier lifestyles. Customers can also take advantage
of programs, products and resources such as President's Choice® Cooking
School healthy eating cooking classes, and PC® Blue Menu products.
About Loblaw Companies Limited TSX:L
Loblaw Companies Limited, a subsidiary of George Weston Limited, is
Canada's largest food retailer and a leading provider of drugstore,
general merchandise and financial products and services. Loblaw is one
of the largest private sector employers in Canada. With more than 1,000
corporate and franchised stores from coast to coast, Loblaw and its
franchisees employ more than 134,000 full-time and part-time employees.
Through its portfolio of store formats, Loblaw is committed to
providing Canadians with a wide, growing and successful range of
products and services to meet the everyday household demands of
Canadian consumers. Loblaw is known for the quality, innovation and
value of its food offering. It offers Canada's strongest control
(private) label program, including the unique President's Choice®, no name® and Joe Fresh® brands. In addition, the Company makes available to consumers
President's Choice Financial® services and offers the PC® points and PC Plus™ loyalty program.
** Source: Hypertension Canada (Canadian Hypertension Education Program
- CHEP)
SOURCE: Loblaw Companies Limited
