The American Heart Association and local top Heart Walk sponsor, Bon Secours Mercy Health are helping Hampton Roads residents take ownership of their cardiovascular health th
rough hypertension management. On Thursday, February 27th, Bon Secours Mercy Health provided blood pressure screenings for the employees at the City of Suffolk as a kickoff to a 4-month long program. The program, Check. Change. Control., empowers participants to learn about, monitor and manage blood pressure through a combination of resources. According to the American Heart Association, high blood pressure, or hypertension, is a major and modifiable risk factor for heart disease and stroke.
“Bon Secours has a long tradition of providing ‘good help’ to our patients in Hampton Roads. We are proud to partner with the American Heart Association to raise awareness about the importance of cardiovascular health in this community, “ said Amy Carrier, president, Bon Secours Hampton Roads. “The Check. Change. Control. program will allow our organizations to empower those who work for the City of Suffolk to know their numbers and take charge of their heart health. We are excited to continue creating a healthier community in Hampton Roads, one heart at a time.”
In the Hampton Roads area, the average percentage of adults with hypertension is 34%. That’s equivalent to the number of people who can fit on 117 naval aircraft carriers. Because the need to reduce high blood pressure is so great in our area, the AHA connected two major local institutions in Suffolk to help find a solution.
“No single risk factor has more impact on the nation’s death rates from cardiovascular disease than blood pressure. Here in the Hampton Roads area, heart disease and stroke are claiming the lives of over 3,000 people every year,” MeShall Hills, Executive Director of the American Heart Association in Hampton Roads said. “Controlling high blood pressure is a key component to improving cardiovascular health and adding quality, healthy years to people’s lives. We are grateful to both Bon Secours Mercy Health and the City of Suffolk for showing their commitment to the health and well-being of the community with participation in this program.”