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Providence Offers Free Blood Pressure Testing Kiosk
at Rogue Valley Mall
February 1, 2009
Medford, OR - Your next shopping trip to the mall may be just what the doctor ordered. Now shoppers at Rogue Valley Mall are able to clearly and accurately test their blood pressure for free with the help of "Heart Check Center," a new blood pressure testing kiosk sponsored by Providence Medford Medical Center. This convenient new kiosk is located on the mall's lower level near Kohl's.
With no appointment, no cost, no waiting line and no invasive procedure, users place their arm in the testing cuff and follow the directions. In just two minutes Heart Check Center displays their blood pressure. This new kiosk is capable of checking thousands of people's blood pressure every week.
"The new Heart Check Center is a wonderful way to increase awareness and educate the public on the importance of regular blood pressure screening," says Adam Pulsipher, Sr. Business Operations Manager of Providence Medical Group, Cardiology. "It will be another way for people to easily access health information that will enable them to live a healthier life."
According to the American Heart Association, recent estimates indicate that nearly one in four U.S. adults have high blood pressure, but because there are no symptoms, nearly one-third of these people don't even know they have it. This is why high blood pressure is often called the "silent killer."
Studies by the American Heart Association indicate that high blood pressure kills approximately 50,000 people in the U.S. each year, and contributes to the death of more than 200,000 annually. Uncontrolled high blood pressure can lead to stroke, heart attack, heart failure, kidney disease and even blindness in some cases. The only way for someone to find out if they have high blood pressure is to have their blood pressure checked.
According to the American Heart Association, high blood pressure can occur in children or adults, but is more common among people over age 35. It's particularly prevalent in African Americans, middle-aged and elderly people, obese people, heavy drinkers and women taking birth control pills. It may run in families, but many people with a strong family history of high blood pressure never have it. People with diabetes, gout or kidney disease are more likely to have high blood pressure, too.
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Providence Medford Medical Center is part of the not-for-profit Providence Health & Services, Oregon's largest health system and largest private employer. Providence Medford is a 168-bed acute care facility featuring a wide range of health care services. Located in the heart of the Rogue Valley, Providence Medford serves communities in southern Oregon and northern California.
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