Program Aims to Detect, Improve High Blood Pressure in Trumbull County
NILES, Ohio – Mercy Health and the American Heart Association are teaming up to improve the blood pressure rates of Trumbull County residents.
Under the new program, blood pressure screenings will be offered at the Mercy Health St. Joe’s at the Mall location in Eastwood Mall. The facility is also making blood pressure measurement devices available for residents to borrow for home use. The program is being funded by the Cafaro Foundation.
“High blood pressure is one of the most important risk factors for heart disease,” said Valerie Weber, of the Northeast Ohio Chapter of the American Heart Association. “In Trumbull County alone, one in three residents have been diagnosed with high blood pressure, and another estimated 25% of residents are walking around with high blood pressure and unaware they have it.”
High blood pressure is often called the “silent killer,” Weber said, because most of the time, it has no obvious symptoms to indicate that something is wrong. “That’s why it is so important that you know your numbers,” she said.
As part of the new collaboration, residents found to have high blood pressure will be offered referrals to Mercy Health providers, according to a news release.
Shirley Lisk, business manager for St. Joe’s at the Mall, said the facility has been doing blood pressure screenings for 16 years and is pleased to step up its efforts.
“Our goal is to connect the participant with their primary care physician so they can have better treatment outcomes,” she said. “With the help of the AHA, we will now be able to provide a blood pressure machine for them to monitor their blood pressure throughout a specific time frame and record those numbers so their physician can get an even better picture of their blood pressure.”
Lisk expect the program to help more than 200 people per year.
Pictured at top: Valerie Weber, Community Impact Director for the American Heart Association, Shirley Lisk, Eastwood Business Manager, St. Joe’s at the Mall and Courtney Lockshaw, Development Director for the American Heart Association
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