News Release

Camille Henry Walford

MPH Liberty University
Lynchburg VA
Contact: Camille Henry Walford
IMMEDIATE RELEASE Telephone: 951-000-0000
June 16,2019. Email: cwalford@liberty.edu
Website: loveahealthyheart.com

THE HYPE ABOUT HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE

“ROWING” OUT IN RIVERSIDE COUNTY

“Average reading level of about 8”: WebFX Inc. Web Site.

A longstanding mission of the Riverside County Health Department is to reduce

the number of persons developing heart disease and having strokes. To help get

this goal going, the department will be launching the “Hype About High Blood

Pressure” educational seminars countywide, providing educational classes and

forums on how to help prevent, monitor and control hypertension at select

community health centers.

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 The “Hype About High Blood Pressure” is a seminar designed to bring more

awareness of high blood pressure to the African American community as

hypertension is the leading cause for developing heart disease and strokes in the

United States.1

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that two out of

every five African American Adults have high blood pressure, with less than half

of that population having their high blood pressure under control.2 The seminar

will consist of presentations, free blood pressure checks, and question and answer

sessions with a community health educator.

This news is important to the area because there is a need to increase the

number of persons who have their blood pressure under control, so as to reduce

their risk for developing heart disease and stroke later on.

At the “Hype” seminars, participants will learn about the importance of proper

dieting and regular exercising, as well as the effects of smoking and excessive

drinking on high blood pressure. Regular exercise helps to improve blood pressure

by making the heart stronger.

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When the heart is stronger, it takes less effort (pressure) to pump blood around the

body.3 Medical experts suggest that regular exercise is only thirty minutes a day for

three days a week.3 To achieve this, one

does not need a gym membership. Activities such as walking, swimming, jogging,

and cycling helps to maintain burn calories and maintaining normal blood pressure.

Persons should always talk to their medical doctors before starting any strenuous

physical activities. Another way to control or offset hypertension, is maintain a

diet low in fats. This helps to keep the blood vessels clear of fat, allowing blood

to flow through without force. Low salt intake is also important for maintaining a

normal blood pressure (120/80).4 A diet rich in whole grains, vegetables, fruits,

and lean meat to keep the heart healthy and strong. Tobacco also leads damaged

blood vessels leading to an increase in blood pressure; while too much drinking

can lead to long term increases in blood pressure.6

Additionally, participants will also learn how to check their blood pressures,

the importance of checking it regularly, as well as about common symptoms of an

elevated blood pressure. The program will run for three months, taking place at

select community health centers across the county on Saturday mornings.

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Bus passes and farmer’s market gift vouchers will be added incentives for

participation.

For information on the Hype about High Blood Pressure program, persons can

reach me by email at cwalford@liberty.edu, by calling 951-000-0000, or by

visiting the Riverside County Department of Health web site at

www.rivcohealth.gov.

The Hype About High Blood Pressure is designed to educate the public about

the effects of hypertension on heart disease and stroke, and to help participants

learn about controlling hypertension to offset these cardiovascular events. For

more information please visit https://loveahealthyheart.weebly.com/ or call 951-000-0001.

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 References

1. Musemwa N, Gadegbeku C. Hypertension in African Americans. Current

Cardiology Reports. 2017;19:129. Accessed June 13, 2019.

2. Celebrate African American history month. Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention Web Site. https://www.cdc.gov/features/africanamericanhistory/index.html.

Accessed June 13, 2019.

3. Exercise: A drug free approach to lowering high blood pressure. The Mayo

Clinic Web Site. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-pressure/in-

depth/high-blood-pressure/art-20045206. Accessed June 13, 2019.

4. Baker EA, Barnidge EK, Schootman M, et al. Adaptation of a Modified DASH Diet to a

Rural African American Community Setting. Am J Prev Med. 2016;51 (6): 967-974.

5. Nordahl H, Osler M, Frederiksen B, et. al . Combined effects of socioeconomic position,

smoking, and hypertension on risk of ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke. Stroke. 2014;45

(9). 2582-2587.