ROSE YMCA
BLOOD
PRESSURE
MONITORING
PROGRAM
The Million Hearts
campaign was launched in
2012 by the U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services with the goal of preventing
one million heart attacks and strokes by
2017.
As part of this effort to prevent
cardiovascular disease, the Y-USA designed
a program to reduce participants’ blood
pressure based on the successful “Check
It, Change It” research study. The YMCA’s
Blood Pressure Self-Monitoring Program
supports adults with high blood pressure
in developing the habit of self-monitoring
blood pressure and understanding the role
nutrition plays in pressure management
through personalized support.
The BPSM evidence-based program is a
four-month program designed to help adults
with high blood pressure develop the habit
of routine blood pressure monitoring.
The goals of the program are:
1) Reduce blood pressure.
2) Develop new skills for managing
blood pressure.
3) Gain the ability to identify and
control triggers that raise blood
pressure .
4) Increase confidence in adopting
healthier eating habits.
Heart Healthy ambassadors from the
YMCA will take participants’ blood pressure
during face-to-face meetings and will train
participants to take their own blood pressure
accurately using the American Heart
Association ABCD protocol.
In addition, the YMCA will offer a
nutrition education seminar each month.
For more information, email the
Healthy Living Director at the Rose
Family YMCA in Cranberry Township
at [email protected]. n
Penn Hills | Fall 2017 | icmags.com 7