Feeling the Pressure?

Are you feeling the pressure because you don’t know your numbers? If you don’t know your numbers you should! It could save your life.

“Your blood pressure and cholesterol numbers are really important can help you keep your heart healthy,” says Registered Nurse Donna Chouinard, director of clinical services at The Homemakers Health Services. “Consider them to be heart health barometers; if they’re too high, you could get into trouble.

If you don’t know your numbers don’t worry, The Homemakers Health Services will make it really easy for you to find out.

“The Homemakers Health Services has teamed up with NorDx Laboratories to launch our “Feel the Pressure” campaign. We’re gathering up our blood pressure cuffs and our cholesterol capabilities and we’re hitting the road to bring heart health awareness to you,” says LeeAnn Lajoie, community liaison with The Homemakers. “Throughout the month of February – American Heart Health Month – members of The Homemakers professional health care teams will provide free blood pressure checks at select locations throughout Rockingham, Strafford and Carroll counties.”

In addition, NorDx will provide certificates for those participating in the blood pressure clinics to receive a complimentary cholesterol screening at any one of its Seacoast locations. All participants of the blood pressure clinics will also receive a “Know Your Numbers” card from the NH Heart Association as well as informational materials regarding heart health.”

“High blood pressure is known as the “silent killer” because there are no symptoms associated with it and most people are unaware that they have the condition,” says Chouinard. “It affects one in three adults in the Granite State; and left untreated, high blood pressure along with high cholesterol, diabetes and smoking accounts for 85 percent of our risk of having a heart attack or stroke which are the #1 causes of death in New Hampshire. That’s a pretty concerning statistic and The Homemakers and NorDx Laboratories think it’s time to step up and do something about it.”

“The health of our community is important to us,” says Scott Taggersell, director at NorDx . “We believe that knowledge is power and that good health starts with being informed and taking care of yourself. If you know your numbers then you can make healthy decisions and get the help you need before your well-being is at risk.”

“After all most heart disease and strokes are preventable,” adds Chouinard. “If you know your numbers and you modify a few things in your life, like diet and exercise, it will go a long way towards keeping your heart healthy. This is all about avoiding long term cardiac health issues, debilitating strokes and sad to say, premature death. We feel that people in communities throughout New Hampshire should know their numbers because they deserve to be healthy, they deserve to live long and happy lives.”

According to Lajoie, in conjunction with our “Feel the Pressure” campaign, The Homemakers will be hosting “The Amazing Heart Race” Facebook Contest.

“Each day, on our Facebook page, The Homemakers will post a picture of our “Amazing Heart” with a clue pointing to where we provided blood pressure screenings that day,” says Lajoie. “The person to guess the most correct places The Homemakers’ Amazing Heart has been throughout the month will win a hand-thrown Rock Garden Pottery bowl filled with heart healthy snacks.”

If you’re business or organization would like to host an on-site blood pressure clinic, contact LeeAnn Lajoie at 335-1770, 114 or llajoie@thehomemakers.org.