WMU News

February message to the campus community is 'Let us pump you up'

Feb. 7, 2000

KALAMAZOO -- Take this message to heart: Get your blood pressure checked.

That's the theme of Western's Annual Campuswide Blood Pressure Screening and Education Program, a preventive health screening benefit for faculty and staff that will travel to 13 campus locations for your convenience during the next two weeks (Feb. 7-17).

This program, sponsored by Sindecuse Health Center's Office of Health Promotion and Education, offers free blood pressure assessments and preventive health education for all members of the university community.

High blood pressure, high cholesterol and tobacco use greatly increase the risk of heart disease. This program is designed:

Approximately one-third of all adults over the age of 18 have high blood pressure. Only about one-half of hypertensive adults are aware of their high blood pressure and only about one in ten have their blood pressure under control.

Blood pressure control can be successfully achieved through healthy weight management; reduction of alcohol, caffeine and sodium intake; cardiovascular exercise; quitting smoking; stress management; and, if needed, medication.

High blood pressure and high cholesterol have no symptoms, so getting them checked regularly should be high on everyone's list for preventive health care.

Let us pump you up! Get your blood pressure checked at the campus screening site most convenient to your schedule. Check the Events page for a complete list of testing sites, dates and times.

Your heart disease risk reduction plan should include all of the following.

Media contact: Cheryl Roland, 616 387-8400, cheryl.roland@wmich.edu


Office of University Relations
Western Michigan University
1903 W Michigan Ave
Kalamazoo MI 49008-5433 USA
616 387-8400
univ-rel@wmich.edu

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