The donation from the San Diego Division of the American Heart Association gives residents the opportunity to improve their blood pressure.
Source: American Heart Association
October 31, 2024 (La Mesa) – East County residents who live in the Grossmont Healthcare District (GHD) can now check out blood pressure monitors from the Health & Wellness Library in La Mesa. The new self-measured blood pressure program is being done in collaboration with the American Heart Association, a global force for healthier lives for all.
The blood pressure program at the Health & Wellness Library gives residents the opportunity to take home a blood pressure measurement kit for 3 weeks. The kits include a clinically validated blood pressure device and cuff, educational handouts in English and Spanish, blood pressure tracking sheets and referrals to community resources.
“High blood pressure is a leading cause and controllable risk factor for heart disease and stroke. Those risk factors are why it’s important to keep blood pressure numbers in check,” said Sheila Brown, RN, FACHE, President of the American Heart Association San Diego Board of Directors. “The new blood pressure kits available at the GHD Health & Wellness Library will help people with high blood pressure know their numbers and keep their numbers in a healthy range.”
Regular measurement of blood pressure outside of a doctor’s office helps ensure patients are diagnosed more accurately. Self-monitoring is also associated with a reduction in blood pressure numbers and improved blood pressure control. The GHD’s Health & Wellness Library already offered a blood pressure check station for patrons, which included a blood pressure monitor, background and instructions for blood pressure measurement, and take-away resources.
“The results of the region’s most recent Community Health Needs Assessment clearly show the impact of heart disease and stroke in East County, which have been identified as two of our strategic priority areas,” said Amy Abrams, Chief Community Health Officer of the Grossmont Healthcare District, which operates the library along with a grants program that supports nonprofits doing community health work in the region. “Our Health & Wellness Library plays a vital role by providing the public with quality, credible health information and the knowledge they need to be good advocates for their own health. We’re so grateful to the American Heart Association for providing these kits, which are a critical learning tool.”
More than 1,800 GHD Health & Wellness Library cardholders have access to the important home monitoring devices. Some of the library cardholders live in rural San Diego County and may not have immediate access to blood pressure monitors. Community Clinics will also be able to refer patients who need to monitor their blood pressure to the library for a no-cost way to track their health metrics at home. The initiative aims to improve access to vital health resources and reduce barriers to care. Many people who have high blood pressure are unaware of the condition. Left uncontrolled, high blood pressure can lead to heart attack, kidney disease or failure, stroke and other health threats.
In the coming months the GHD’s Health & Wellness Library will have blood pressure monitors available for check-out from a new mobile library unit. This is a part of the Association’s commitment to advancing health and hope for everyone, everywhere.
For more information about blood pressure and how to improve heart health, visit heart.org.
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