February is American Heart Month. Across the country, Americans join in the battle against heart disease. This annual observation started in 1963 and continues to grow every year as local organizations, the department of public health, and health systems try to increase awareness about heart disease and preventative efforts.
High blood pressure increases the risk for heart disease and stroke, the leading causes of death in the United States, as reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC/National Center for Health Statistics, 2022). The CDC recommends at-home blood pressure monitoring for individuals with high blood pressure. The practice of self-monitoring blood pressure allows both patient and provider to gain better insight when developing or adjusting treatment plans. These insights aid a patient in reaching their blood pressure goals quicker. Patients can also confirm the benefits of a healthier lifestyle with the obtained information from home monitor devices.
Locally, the Georgia Rural Health Innovation Center has partnered with the Department of Public Health in Hancock County and the Community Health Care System in Twiggs County. These partnerships resulted in the donation of digital-display wrist blood-pressure monitors. These at-home monitors are available, free of charge, to people lacking resources for a self-monitoring blood pressure device.
If you are looking for more information on heart disease prevention, please visit Heart Disease | cdc.gov and www.heart.org.
For free American Heart Month 2022 toolkits please visit American Heart Month Toolkits 2022 | cdc.gov.