SIIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO AM) The Big Squeeze kicked off in Sioux Falls on Monday with free blood pressure screenings at various locations around town.
Its the seventh annual Big Squeeze to raise awareness that all too many people have high blood pressure, and may not even known it.
Here's the link to the places where you can get squeezed for free: www.thebigsqueezesf.org.
“We know that preventive services, such as a routine blood pressure check, are at the forefront of improving health,” says Mary Michaels, Public Health Prevention Coordinator for the Sioux Falls Health Department. “What we have learned through The Big Squeeze is that only about one-third of adults screened through the program had normal blood pressure readings. And, of those who had high readings, many had never been told by a health care professional that they have high blood pressure.”
During the 2016 Big Squeeze, 34 percent of adults screened had a normal blood pressure (below 120/80), 45 percent were in the “at risk” category, and 21 percent had high blood pressure readings. Of those screened with the high readings, 39 percent were not aware they could have high blood pressure.
A group of public and private partners from the Sioux Falls community drive this successful effort, including the American Heart Association, Augustana University, Avera Health, City of Sioux Falls, DAKOTACARE, Lewis Drug, Sanford Health, South Dakota State University, the University of South Dakota, the University of Sioux Falls, and Walgreens.