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Photo by Brett Stanley/The Advocate
Allisa Wacek, first year nursing student, checks Kenny Heggem, broadcasting major, for high blood pressure. Students can perform a self-check at the Health and Wellness Center’s self-help station.
Health and Wellness puts a
on high Blood pressure
The Advocate
Nursing students will be giving free blood pressure checks between 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. every Tuesday until Nov. 17 in the Vista Dining Center.
“You are supposed to sit in a relaxed position for at least five minutes prior to taking your blood pressure to get an accurate reading,” said Emily Mayer a Health and Wellness Resource Center staff member.
Blood pressure monitoring equipment is also available for free at the Health and Wellness Resource Center in the College Center.
Staff members can demonstrate how to use the monitoring device and information is available there about blood pressure.
“You can come in any time you want to and self-check your blood pressure,” Mayer said. “We have a blood pressure machine. There doesn’t have to be staff in here (Room 1051A) for you to be able to do that.”
If someone is right-handed, they will have their blood pressure taken on their left arm, and if they are left-handed they get it taken on your right arm because it can affects measuring.
Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against the walls of the blood vessels. High blood pressure makes the heart work harder than normal and causes it to grow abnormally large. This puts both the heart and arteries under greater strain.
High blood pressure is the number one risk factor for stroke and the second leading cause of death in America.
It contributes to cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, dementia, eye damage and congestive heart failure.
According to the American Heart Association, if someone has high blood pleasure, they can turn the pressure down by changing how they eat, drink, exercise, and deal with stress and by quitting smoking.
For more information, contact the Health and Wellness Resource Center at 503-491-7125.
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