What is the HVC CARES program?
HVC CARES stands for Heart and Vascular Center (HVC) Community Awareness Research and Education Saves Lives (CARES).
This program is a community-based outreach initiative. It focuses on improving heart health among people living in areas across New Hampshire and Vermont. Our team travels into local communities to provide free cardiovascular screenings.
Find a screening event near you
What are cardiovascular screenings?
Cardiovascular screenings check your blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Cardiovascular screenings are generally quite quick and relatively pain-free.
- To take your blood pressure, we wrap a blood pressure cuff around your upper arm and use a blood pressure monitor.
- To check your cholesterol, we perform a point-of-care (POCT) test, which is very similar to using a glucometer to check blood sugar. We use a lancet to poke your finger and then use a small pipette to collect the blood sample. We then run the test on the blood sample using our machines. You get your results in 2 minutes.
It's important to check these key physical indicators, as they can often be linked to serious conditions, such as heart disease and stroke.
Why is it important to get a cardiovascular screening?
Many cardiovascular conditions are considered "silent killers." They often show no symptoms until they become life-threatening.
By identifying risks early, we help you take proactive steps to manage your health and prevent more serious complications.
Heart and cardiovascular health education
Heart health and cardiovascular health education are a core part of our program. We provide personalized, one-on-one guidance based on your results, lifestyle, and risk factors.
We also distribute healthy living resources from the American Heart Association, such as:
- How to manage any existing cardiac illnesses
- How to eat healthy
- How to get more physical activity
- How to manage all preventable risk factors
Our goal is to empower you to better understand and take control of your cardiovascular health!
Where can I get a free cardiovascular screening?
For a list of our upcoming cardiovascular screening events, please refer to our HVC CARES Events website.
Support the HVC CARES program
The HVC CARES program is made possible through philanthropic giving.