by Giovanna Fabbri
Employee Health will host free blood pressure screenings for all Augusta University employees from 9 a.m.–3 p.m. on Feb. 28 at their satellite location, BA 1343, in the AU Medical Center.
High blood pressure is a common and dangerous condition that can increase the risk for health problems including heart disease, the number one cause of death in the United States.
According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 75 million American adults suffer from high blood pressure, an equivalent of one in every three adults.
Major risk factors detected by the American Heart Association are:
- Family history
- Age: the older you are, the more chances to develop high blood pressure
- Race: African-Americans tend to develop high blood pressure more often than people of any other racial background
- Lack of physical activity
- Unhealthy diet and being overweight
- Alcohol or tobacco in excess
- Stress
This disease is considered a silent killer, so even if you don’t have any of these risk factors, get your blood pressure checked anyway.
When: Feb. 28 from 9 a.m.–3 p.m.
Where: Satellite Location (BA 1343), AU Medical Center
For more information, email Frances Toole.