New initiative empowers Mainers to take control of blood pressure at home

by

Rural areas often have blood pressure rates that are higher than the state’s average

Nearly half of U.S. adults have high blood pressure, but many are not aware they have it since it frequently has no symptoms. In Maine, the rate of high blood pressure for the entire state is 31.7% of the population. Referred to as a “silent killer,” the only way to know you have high blood pressure is to have your blood pressure monitored in consultation with a healthcare provider.

Through sponsorship support from M&T Bank, the American Heart Association today donated resources to support a self-measured blood pressure initiative at Sacopee Valley Health Center (SVHC) in Porter. Resources include ten blood pressure cuffs and educational materials.

Rural areas often have blood pressure rates higher than the state average as people living in those areas often face unique healthcare challenges. These challenges include limited access to medical facilities, fewer healthcare providers, and lifestyle factors that contribute to higher blood pressure rates. Having access to blood pressure equipment and education makes it easier for patients to work with their healthcare providers to assess and control their blood pressure. Self-monitoring programs at rural health centers like SVHC help reduce the community’s risk for both heart disease and stroke.

SVHC Clinicians will instruct their patients on how to check and monitor their blood pressure over several weeks at home with these user-friendly cuffs. The Association’s educational materials will provide further instructions and valuable information about the effects of high blood pressure and how to prevent it.

Self-monitoring blood pressure at home is useful for a variety of reasons when patients need to track their blood pressure over a period of time. This is especially true if their clinician wants numbers from a range of days to confirm a diagnosis, or to monitor the effects of a medication or a lifestyle change.

“High blood pressure is a top risk factor for heart disease and stroke – which are leading causes of death in Maine,” said Linday Colle, the Association’s Development Director in Maine. “Since high blood pressure often has no symptoms, there are very likely many people in our state with undiagnosed high blood pressure. Knowledge is power, and we’re so glad local organizations like M&T Bank and Sacopee Valley Health Center support this initiative to help us save and improve more lives.”

Additional Resources: