A health awareness campaign wants every adult in Pinellas County to find out what his or her blood pressure is in 2004 in an effort to fight "the silent killer."
By SUSAN ASCHOFF
Published December 16, 2003
[AP photo]
Screenings for the campaign called “Know Your Numbers” won’t begin before February, but organizers hope it will increase the public’s awareness about health.
Doris Souza knows her numbers. She double checks them at the Eckerd or Target when she's shopping, stopping by the store pharmacy to use the self-serve blood pressure machine.
"I do it about once a month, when I feel as though I need to," says the 85-year-old St. Petersburg resident.
One down, 746,159 to go.
Beginning in February, a health care advocacy group wants every adult 18 or older in Pinellas County to get his or her blood pressure checked at least once in 2004. The campaign, called "Know Your Numbers," will inform residents about the risks of high blood pressure and encourage them to keep theirs in the healthy range.
But testing three-quarters of a million people?
"We wanted to do something that would get their attention," says Dianna King of the American Heart Association.
King is a member of Partnership for Healthier Pinellas, a coalition of government officials, health care providers, employers and non-profit organizations targeting health care issues in Pinellas, particularly those of the uninsured and low income. One of the partnership's primary projects is HealthFlex, a state pilot program it wants for the county which spreads the cost of insurance premiums across public and private sectors so more people can have coverage. The blood pressure campaign is about another partnership goal: Increasing public awareness about health.
"I don't know of any community of this size that's said, 'We're going to make sure everyone in our community has their blood pressure checked,' " says Dr. William Hale of Dunedin, a retired internist and Healthier Pinellas member. It was Hale's idea to make blood pressure screenings the first major campaign.
"The risk of undetected and untreated blood pressure is immense - it leads to heart attacks and strokes," Hale says.
High blood pressure has no symptoms. It is called the silent killer. About 45,000 Americans die of the disease each year, reports the American Heart Association, and one-third of those with high blood pressure don't know they have it.
Yet diagnosis involves one of the simplest tests in medicine today.
A rubber cuff is wrapped around the upper arm and inflated, compressing a large artery and stopping the blood flow. When the air in the cuff is released, the blood again pulses so a health care worker can hear and measure the force of the blood against the artery.
A reading is made up of two numbers. The first, systolic pressure, is the level when the "beat" is first heard. The second, diastolic pressure, is the level when the blood is fully flowing and no pulse is heard.
High blood pressure, called hypertension, stresses the heart and the vessels, directly increasing the risk for heart attack and stroke.
"One in four people in Pinellas County hase high blood pressure," says King. "We can make a significant difference by helping them access health care: They need to bring it down."
Screenings likely will not begin before February. Organizers are printing brochures and soliciting sites that already offer screenings, from health clinics to community groups, to participate. They've asked businesses to donate prizes. Each person who has their blood pressure checked will receive a sticker or magnet with a number for a drawing.
One of the biggest challenges, says King, is working out logistics for follow-up. People with bad test results need to seek medical care: How do you nag someone without invading their privacy, she says.
High blood pressure can be treated through diet, exercise, stress management and medication.
The cause, in many cases, is unknown. It can occur at any age and in people who lead healthy lifestyles. It is particularly prevalent in African-Americans. It usually strikes the middle-aged and elderly. Risk is higher for individuals who are overweight or heavy drinkers (more than two drinks per day) or smokers. People with diabetes, gout or kidney disease suffer high blood pressure more often, as do pregnant women and couch potatoes.
Souza, who is on blood pressure medication and checked her numbers two weeks ago at Target, says she does her part.
"I keep my salt down. I love potato chips but I steer clear. I eat bananas" for the potassium, she says.
"If this is successful," says Dr. Hale of the "Know Your Numbers" campaign, "maybe next year we'll be doing Body Mass Index or lipids."
