Learn to manage your own blood pressure!
One in three American adults have high blood pressure, and only about half of people with high blood pressure have their condition under control. Here at the YMCA, we want to help. That’s why we started our Blood Pressure Self-Monitoring Program.
We believe that regularly monitoring your blood pressure is the first step to improving your heart health.
We sat down with two of our Blood Pressure Program participants, Aletheir Evans and Glennis Theesen to talk about their thoughts on the program!
Evans and Theesen both live at the Goldbeck Towers at Good Samaritan Village. They started monitoring their own blood pressure with help from the YMCA, and have changed their eating habits to reduce their high blood pressure.
“Eating healthy makes a lot of difference”, said Theesen, who joined Weight Watchers and has seen great results after changing her eating habits. Theesen joined the YMCA’s self-monitoring program so she can regularly keep up with her blood pressure and health.
“High blood pressure can invite stroke and heart attack”, Evans told us. Which is why she takes the extra steps needed to keep her blood pressure on track. The YMCA hopes that with the self-monitoring program, that is hosted at multiple locations around Hastings, that many more will learn to regularly monitor their own blood pressure and reduce the risk of health issues.
“You’ve made it convenient for us to keep up with our health”, Evans told us at one of the consultations held at Good Samaritan Village. It’s important to the YMCA that everyone around town gets the opportunity to partake in the program, which is the goal of having multiple program locations.
The YMCA’s Blood Pressure Self-Monitoring Program helps participants:
- Reduce their blood pressure by identifying patterns and trends on which to take action.
- Increase their awareness of triggers that elevate blood pressure.
- Improve their knowledge of heart-healthy eating habits.
- Enrich communication with their health care provider by sharing self-monitoring results.
How the Program Works:
Participants will work with trained Healthy Heart Ambassadors for the duration of the four-month program. Just a few check-ins per month can yield big results. You will:
- Take your own blood pressure at least two times per month.
- Attend two consultations with a YMCA Healthy Heart Ambassador per month. No appointment necessary.
- Attend monthly nutrition education.
- You will record your blood pressure readings using an easy-to-use tracking tool of your own choosing. The YMCA can provide options for participants who need a home blood pressure monitor. A small investment produces big results.
Learn to manage your own blood pressure with help from the YMCA!
To learn more or find program times and locations, visit our Blood Pressure page by clicking “Learn More” below.
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