These Florida libraries offer free blood pressure monitor kits

Orange County, Fla. -The February is perhaps American heart month, but for 52-year-old Benjamin Garcia, the cup season is all year round.

“I'm always curious to see what the number is,” said Garcia.

He talks about his blood pressure numbers.

“High blood pressure is the main cause of stroke and heart disease and is attributed to one of five deaths in Florida,” said Melissa Turner, coordinator of the HCA Florida Healthcare Stroke.

Garcia said his family had high blood pressure in the past. Checking his numbers is an important step to stay up to date with his health.

You can keep an eye on your blood pressure by checking a kit from your local library. The Orange County Library system, which works with the American Heart Association and the HCA Florida Healthcare, to offer about 100 kits in the library branches – all part of the libraries with a heart program.

“We meet you where we are and you can check materials, check blood pressure monitors and monitor your health because the high blood pressure is a silent killer,” said Leila Higgins, manager of the branch in Windermere. “The kits can be checked and renewed for three weeks, and the materials are available in English and Spanish.”

How to use a home blood pressure monitor

A cuff that is the wrong size causes inaccurate blood pressure measurement. (OCLS has large cuffs for checking out.)

When preparing your blood pressure:

• Plan ahead. Do not smoke, do not drink caffeinated drinks within 30 minutes before blood pressure or train within 30 minutes. Empty your bladder.

• Do not take the measurement through clothing. Remove the clothing over the arm used to measure blood pressure.

• You can use both arms. Usually there is no big difference between the readings on them.

• Be quiet. Allow at least five minutes of calm calm before the measurements. Do not speak or do not use the phone.

• Sit properly. Sit down and support yourself with your back (on an eating chair and not on a sofa). Your feet should be flat on the floor. Don't cross your legs. Protect your arm on a flat surface. The middle of the cuff should be placed on the upper arm with a heart. Check the instructions of your monitor for an illustration or let your medical specialist show you how.

• Measure every day at the same time. Take the measurements every day at the same time. Talk to your medical specialist about how often you should exercise your blood pressure.

• Take several readings and record the results. Take two measurements in one minute every time you measure. Write down the results with a printable tracker (PDF). If your monitor has an integrated memory to save your readings, bring it to your medical dates. Some monitors may also upload your readings to a secure website.

If your blood pressure is too high, you will be recommended to contact your healthcareist. The kits are equipped with a tracking sheet so that they can record the measured values ​​and record their doctor.

“In this way you can see the trends, for example, when they are high in the morning or in the afternoon. Is it still high after taking your medication? They have to be adjusted, ”said Turner.

Through libraries with a heart, each branch also has an AED on site with employees who are trained in CPR and first aid so that they can quickly react to emergency situations until medical help arrives.

The blood pressure monitor kits can check out to members at OCLS libraries. Be sure to ask in your local library about availability.