If the numbers 140 over 90, or anything higher, mean anything to you, you probably know you have high blood pressure and you might want to visit the Wilton YMCA.
According to the American Heart Association, 140/90 is the entry level to stage 1 of high blood pressure, also known as hypertension. Blood pressure readings measure the force of blood flowing through a person’s arteries with each heartbeat. If the force is too high, the tissues that make up the walls of those arteries gets stretched and may become damaged. This can lead to serious health problems.
Beginning this month, the Wilton Family Y on Danbury Road will begin offering the YMCA Blood Pressure Management Program, which is intended to help people with hypertension lower their blood pressure. It is the second phase of a program that was introduced in February and concluded in June.
The Y is inviting 150 people to participate in learning how to control their blood pressure through various means.
During the course of the four-month program, participants will measure and record their blood pressure at least twice per month. Each week they will partake in 180 minutes of physical activity equivalent to brisk walking, tracking their progress. A supplemental nutrition education component will encourage healthy eating habits.
Participants will also receive one-on-one personalized support from a trained YMCA staff member and access to select group physical activity classes at the Y.
The program is a bit different than the one offered earlier this year, said the Y’s Mary Ann Genuario. In the first phase, women who were in their third trimester of pregnancy were not eligible and participants had to be comfortable using the Internet for record-keeping purposes. Neither is the case this time around.
“In this program you can track your results any way you like, with paper and pen, an app on a phone, but you still must commit to monitoring your blood pressure two times a month over four months,” she said.
The exercise component and nutrition education seminars are also new.
Ms. Genuario said the first program was very successful, with 79.6% of participants showing a significant impact on their blood pressure.
“One of the reasons for that surely was it made people more aware,” she said. “If they were on blood pressure medication it was a good check for them to see if the medication was working.
“There’s that feeling sometimes of overconfidence if you are on medication. You trust that it is working. With the program people became more aware instead of waiting for a visit with their physician. It made them accountable.”
Those interested in participating in this new program must meet the following criteria:
• Must be at least 18 years old.
• Must be diagnosed with high blood pressure.
• Must not have experienced a recent cardiac event.
• Must not have atrial fibrillation or other arrhythmias.
• Must not be at risk for lymphedema.
Those accepted into the program will receive:
• A simple, evidence-based program that may lower blood pressure.
• Self-monitoring blood pressure cuff.
• Personalized support from a Wilton Family YMCA Healthy Heart Ambassador.
• Tips for maintaining cardiovascular health.
• Access to select Wilton Family YMCA group physical activity classes.
• Monthly nutrition education seminars.
The Wilton Y is one of seven Ys in the United States to test this program. Anyone interested should sign up by the end of January, since the four-month program concludes in May.
For information, call Ms. Genuario at 203-762-8384, ext. 282, or email magenuario@wiltonymca.org.