A short conversation with a nurse can catch a problem before it becomes an emergency. On Monday, July 6, the Santa Catalina Branch Library in Pasadena offers exactly that: free health counseling and screenings, no appointment required.
From 10 a.m. to noon, a registered nurse will be on hand to talk through personal health questions and provide screenings for hypertension — high blood pressure, often called a silent condition because it can advance without symptoms — and for diabetes. Anyone hoping to be screened for diabetes should note that a minimum two-hour fast is required beforehand for an accurate reading.
The screenings arrive at a branch with deep roots in its neighborhood. Housed in a 1931 building on East Washington Boulevard, Santa Catalina is one of the oldest branches in the Pasadena Public Library system, dating to 1913, and today anchors the system’s Armenian-language collection while serving as a gathering place for the surrounding community.
Both conditions on offer for screening are widespread and, in their early stages, easy to overlook. Spotting elevated blood pressure or blood sugar early gives residents a chance to make changes long before either develops into something more serious — and the walk-in format removes the scheduling hurdles that keep many people from getting checked at all.
No registration is needed. Participants can simply arrive during the two-hour window and speak with the nurse on a first-come basis.
Free health screenings will take place on Monday, July 6 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Santa Catalina Branch Library, 999 E. Washington Boulevard, Pasadena. For more information, call (626) 744-7272. Admission is free. No appointment necessary; a two-hour fast is required for the diabetes screening.
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