How do you measure up?

  • Published
  • By Katie Doyle
  • Tinker Health and Wellness Promotion

High blood pressure is a common and dangerous condition, often called the “silent killer” with minimal warning signs or symptoms. About 1 of 3 U.S. adults — or about 75 million people — have high blood pressure. Only about half (54%) of these people have their high blood pressure under control, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (www.cdc.gov). 

Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against the walls of your arteries as they carry blood from your heart to other parts of your body. While blood pressure normally rises and falls throughout the day, health problems such as heart disease and stroke can arise if it stays high for a long time. There are many steps you can take to help prevent high blood pressure, such as:

  •  Eating a healthy diet

  •  Maintaining a healthy weight

  •  Getting enough physical activity

  •  Not smoking

  •  Limiting alcohol use

  •  Reducing your stress

  •  Monitoring your blood pressure regularly

  •  Talking with your health care team

Tinker CHPS has many services to help increase awareness of your blood pressure and offer educational opportunities for prevention:

  •  Wellness screenings: cardiac risk profile, blood pressure, body composition

  •  Health education classes: DASH Diet for Healthy Blood Pressure, Warning Signs of Heart Attack and Stroke

  •  Physical activity / weight management challenges

While CHPS is available to offer these events at your worksite location, we now offer a more convenient way to monitor your blood pressure. See how you measure up by stopping by Bldg. 9001 Post A44 to try out our new touchscreen blood pressure kiosk. Though not a diagnostic device, the kiosk does provide information on blood pressure, heart rate, weight and BMI. Get checked today!