Preventative health screening
Being proactive with a preventative health screening is one way to help you stay healthy and detect problems early. We’ll cover the basics of the different types of health screenings available, associated diseases and why they should be a part of maintaining your health.
Let's plan your visit
All fields are required
Browse available services
Vaccinations (including COVID-19)
Protect yourself and your family from flu, COVID-19 and more.
More health services by category
- Allergies
- Canker sores, cold sores & mouth pain
- Cold, strep, sinus infection & flu symptoms
- COVID-19 treatment
- Ear infections & earwax blockage
- Pink eye & styes
- Post-vaccination side effects
- Sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
- Skin & nail infections
- Stomach & digestive issues
- Urinary tract & bladder infections
- Aches & pains
- Burns, blisters & wounds
- Splinter, stitch & staple removal
- Acne, rosacea & psoriasis
- Burns, blisters & wounds
- Eyelash lengthening consultation
- Growths, skin tags & warts
- Hair loss evaluation & treatment
- Nail infections
- Rashes, bug bites & lice
- Splinter, stitch & staple removal
- Swollen veins & leg pain treatment
Only at MinuteClinic:
- Birth control injection
- Men's health
- Sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
- Vitamin B12 injection
- Women's health
At both CVS Pharmacy & MinuteClinic:
- Birth Control Consultation
- Physicals
- Tests & screenings
- Asthma
- Diabetes
- Headache & migraines
- Heart conditions
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Joint pain & gout
- Migraines
- Osteoporosis
- Post-stroke or post-TIA (transient ischemic attack) care
- Respiratory conditions
- Sleep disorders
- Stomach & digestive issues
- Thyroid & parathyroid
- Insomnia treatment
- Sleep apnea screening & treatment
Only at MinuteClinic:
- Mental health (limited locations)
- Smoking cessation
- Weight loss program
At both CVS Pharmacy & MinuteClinic:
- Smoking cessation
- EpiPen (epinephrine injection pen) Refill
- One-time medication renewal
- Malaria prevention
- Motion sickness prevention
- Pre-travel health consultation
- Travelers' diarrhea prevention & care
- Typhoid vaccine
- Zika assessment
- Eye infections
- Eyelash lengthening consultation
Insurance and pricing
Most insurance accepted. Check your coverage or estimate the cost of your visit if you’re uninsured or prefer to pay out-of-pocket.
Wondering how preventative health screenings support your overall wellness? Get the info you need.
What is a preventative health screening?
A preventative health screening is a type of examination where a provider conducts different types of medical tests. It can help to identify whether you are at risk for diseases like diabetes, hypertension and more. It may sound frightening to learn about your risk for serious diseases, but when you know your risk ahead of time, you can take steps to avoid long-term health problems.
Getting help
Your MinuteClinic provider can discuss your health history, examine you and perform tests. They can also work with you to develop a plan to lower any risks you may have so that you can avoid health problems. If necessary, they can also prescribe medication.
1. Prior to scheduling your appointment, you may have to answer a few questions about symptoms to help us prepare for your visit.
2. Check-in varies depending on how you scheduled your appointment:
If you made your appointment online:
Check in using the email or text message we sent to confirm your appointment. If you prefer to check in using the electronic kiosk, make sure you have your confirmation code.
If you made your appointment in the clinic:
Sign in at the electronic kiosk.
3. When it's time for your appointment, a provider will call your name.
4. Your provider will conduct a thorough examination based on your reason for visit, presenting symptoms and health history. Charges will be based on examination and services provided during the visit.
5. At the end of your visit, you are provided with a visit summary, receipt and educational material about your diagnosis. At your request, we can send your primary care provider information about your visit.
Types of preventative health screenings and why they’re important
At MinuteClinic®, a preventative health screening involves taking detailed medical and family histories, doing a physical exam, taking blood pressure and performing blood tests. The blood tests include:
- A blood sugar or A1C check
- A cholesterol test
- Diabetes
- Heart damage such as a heart attack and heart failure
- Kidney damage
- Lung damage
- Stroke
If you know your risk for developing these problems, your MinuteClinic provider can recommend lifestyle changes to limit or prevent these issues from happening. These lifestyle changes include diet, exercise and smoking cessation (quitting smoking).
Health screenings are important for supporting your overall wellness. These routine tests can detect medical problems before you even feel sick. An early diagnosis enables your provider to better manage your condition. They can prescribe medicine and start treatments sooner to help improve outcomes.
Health screenings can also identify your risk factors for chronic conditions. If you're more likely to become ill, you may be able to take medications or make diet and lifestyle changes to improve your health. Your MinuteClinic provider can suggest the best health screenings based on your age, health and family medical history.
Blood pressure is a measure of how hard your heart is working to pump blood through your body. Blood pressure is always written as a ratio (fraction) of two numbers. A blood pressure that is higher than 120/80 mm Hg can put you at risk for many of the diseases a preventative health screening looks for.
| Blood pressure category | Systolic (top) number | Diastolic (bottom) number |
| Normal | Less than 120 | Less than 80 |
| Elevated | 120 to 129 | Less than 80 |
| Stage 1 hypertension | 130 to 139 | 80 to 90 |
| Stage 2 hypertension | Greater than or equal to 140 | Greater than or equal to 90 |
If your body weight is too high, it can put you at increased risk for certain diseases. A MinuteClinic provider can measure your weight and help you design a weight-management plan.
Losing just 5 to 10% of your body weight can be enough to prevent many long-term health problems. While weight loss can seem challenging, with support, you can ensure a healthier outlook for your life.
Your blood sugar determines your risk of developing diabetes.
MinuteClinic providers can measure your blood sugar using one of two different blood tests. The first test is a direct measure of blood sugar at the time your blood is drawn. The second measure, called A1C, can tell you your average blood sugar levels over the previous three months.
If you have high blood sugar, diet and exercise can lower it. If diet and exercise are not enough, medications can help. Knowing you have high blood sugar before you develop diabetes can help you avoid suffering the long-term health consequences of the disease.
The time required for health screenings varies greatly. It depends on what the test is for and how complex it is. For example, a health care provider can usually check blood pressure or draw a blood sample in a few minutes. Yearly wellness physicals can take longer, as they involve physical exams.
Your medical provider may want to check your weight, listen to your heart and examine your skin for moles. Mental health screenings also take time. You can expect questions about sleep habits, mood and stress levels. Your MinuteClinic provider can tell you more about what to expect at your screening and how long it should take.
IMPORTANT! PLEASE READ: This material is for reference only and should not be used to determine treatment for specific medical conditions. Please visit a health care provider for evaluation, diagnosis and treatment of any symptoms you may be experiencing. If you're experiencing a medical emergency, please dial 911 or visit your local emergency department.
REFERENCES USED AS SOURCES FOR THIS PAGE:
-
1. Know Your Numbers via American Heart Association. (Accessed 10th January 2024)
-
2. Understanding Blood Pressure Readings via American Heart Association. (Accessed 10th January 2024)
-
3. Health Threats From High Blood Pressure via American Heart Association. (Accessed 10th January 2024)
-
4. Causes of High Cholesterol via American Heart Association. (Accessed 10th January 2024)
-
5. What is Blood Cholesterol? via NHLBI, NIH. (Accessed 10th January 2024)
-
6. What Your Cholesterol Levels Mean via American Heart Association. (Accessed 10th January 2024)