{"id":18051,"date":"2016-05-12T08:45:34","date_gmt":"2016-05-12T12:45:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.wrfalp.com\/?p=18051"},"modified":"2016-05-12T09:53:13","modified_gmt":"2016-05-12T13:53:13","slug":"wca-offers-free-blood-pressure-checks-in-may-during-national-high-blood-pressure-education-month","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wrfalp.com\/wca-offers-free-blood-pressure-checks-in-may-during-national-high-blood-pressure-education-month\/","title":{"rendered":"WCA Offers Free Blood Pressure Checks in May During National High Blood Pressure Education Month"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"WCAJAMESTOWN – <\/em>May is American Stroke Month<\/strong> and National High Blood Pressure Education Month<\/strong> and this year, the CHQ 250 under the Million Hearts\u00ae<\/strong> campaign will focus on increasing public awareness of stroke risks and warning signs and educating the public about blood pressure control.<\/p>\n

The WCA Hospital<\/strong> Wellness, Cardiology, and Chautauqua County Health Action teams will join this effort by offering the general public FREE BLOOD PRESSURE checks during the month of May. No appointment is necessary and walk-ins are welcomed Monday \u2013 Friday, between the hours of 7 a.m. and 3 p.m.<\/p>\n

To get your blood pressure checked, stop by the WCA Hospital Cardiology Department<\/strong> located at the main campus, 207 Foote Avenue, Jamestown, and check-in with the receptionist. The Cardiology Department is located on the 2nd Floor of the hospital, adjacent from the Auditorium. Blood pressures will be checked by a registered nurse. The screening only takes a few minutes. Anyone with a high blood pressure result will be referred to the Emergency Department or his\/her primary care physician.<\/p>\n

Blood pressure is commonly associated with narrowing of the arteries, which causes the heart and blood vessels to overwork. Blood pressure is recorded as two numbers: the systolic pressure (as the heart beats) over the diastolic pressure (as the heart relaxes between beats).<\/p>\n

\u201cMost people cannot tell if their blood pressure is high because there are typically no symptoms,\u201d said Toni DeAngelo<\/strong>, RN, WCA Community Health and Wellness Director.\u00a0 \u201cHigh blood pressure is a common disease in which blood flows through blood vessels (arteries) at higher than normal pressures and can increase the risk of heart failure, heart attack, stroke, or kidney failure.\u00a0 The good news is that we have the ability to lower our blood pressure through lifestyle modifications and medication.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brenda Fitzgerald<\/strong>, RN, cardiac rehab specialist at WCA, tells us that high blood pressure can be prevented\u2014and lowered\u2014if people take the following preventative steps:<\/p>\n