Importance Of Getting Blood Pressure Checked

SIOUX FALLS, SD - Do you know what your blood pressure is? Do you even know what those numbers mean? You should because it could save your life.

75 million people in this country have high blood pressure; that's one in three adults. It's called a silent killer because oftentimes you have no idea your blood vessels are constricting and forcing the heart to work harder.

That's why a month-long project to encourage you to get your blood pressure checked kicked off Thursday. It's called The Big Squeeze and throughout the month of May, you can get your blood pressure checked at various locations across Sioux Falls.

While millions of people in this country are diagnosed with high blood pressure, 22 million aren't being treated for it. And that means a stroke or heart attack can happen without warning.

"We do have some people that have white coat hypertension, only when they come into the doctor's office. And when you check the blood pressure at home, it's fine. So for those people it really does help to have a home unit where you can check your BP periodically," Sioux Falls physician Dr. Jerry Walton said.

You can get your blood pressure checked this next month for free at locations like Lewis Drug, Falls Community Health, and several churches. You can get more information on from the American Heart Association's Big Squeeze website.