While driving through the parking lot of a local supermarket, a person who had received a screening for high blood pressure at one of MHA’s screening events rolled down his window and said, “Hey, Heather, I want to let you know that I saw my doctor and I’m on blood pressure medication now. Thanks!”
This person is a perfect example of why our Community Health Workers enjoy the work they do. They encourage people to commit to caring for their health and as a result, health crises are avoided.
The client referenced in the story above had an alarming blood pressure reading of 192/111, which qualifies him as needing immediate emergency care. This is a perfect example of why it is so important to know your numbers. High blood pressure is often referred to as “the silent killer” because there are often no signs associated with the condition. Had this person not been alerted to his numbers by MHA’s quarterly screening event, he could have suffered a major health emergency. This is an example of how our rural health network can have a huge impact on our isolated community.
