Wyoming Library Blood Pressure Cuff Checkout Program

Self-measured blood pressure monitoring (SMBP) kits are now available for checkout through the Wyoming County Library System. The kits are available in both English and Spanish and include the following: a clinically validated, automated, home blood pressure cuff, blood pressure logbooks, educational materials from the American Heart Association including “How to Measure Your Blood Pressure at Home” infographics, information on what blood pressure is, and ideas for healthy lifestyle changes.

The kits also include a resource directory to local community-based organizations and referral resources to the Healthy U chronic disease self-management program. SMBP Library Kits are available in every county. This resource which has been made available by collaboration between the University of Wyoming Center on Aging, the Wyoming Department of Health- Chronic Disease Prevention Program and each county public library system.

This resource which has been made available by collaboration between the University of Wyoming Center on Aging, the Wyoming Department of Health- Chronic Disease Prevention Program and each county public library system. Nationally nearly half of adults in the United States (47%, or 116 million) have hypertension, or are taking medication for hypertension, and only about 1 in 4 adults (24%) with hypertension have their condition under control. Nearly one-third (30.7%) of Wyoming adults have been told by a health professional that they have high blood pressure. However, to reach this population, nothing is more critical than to form partnerships with healthcare professionals and healthcare organizations.

Go check out a kit at your local library and Get to Know Your Numbers!

Contact healthierwyo@uwyo.edu for locations near you!

High Blood Pressure Information

High Blood Pressure Toolkits and Resources

Need help getting connected to a provider or enrolling in health insurance? Learn more about Wyoming 211 by clicking HERE.

The Wyoming Center on Aging is teaming up with Senator Barrasso to raise awareness about hypertension in Wyoming. Governor Gordon is also joining the effort by proclaiming May 2025 High Blood Pressure Education Month.

Heart Disease Facts

Heart Disease in the U.S

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the U.S.[1]
One person dies every 36 second in the U.S. from Cardiovascular disease[2].
Coronary heart disease is the most common type of heart disease; about 18.2 million adults (age 20 and older) have coronary heart disease[2].
One person has a heart attack every 40 seconds in the United States[2].

Heart Disease Risk Factors

Below are risk factors of heart disease. Other risk factors include family history and age [4]:

High blood pressure
High blood cholesterol
Diabetes
Obesity
Physical inactivity
Tobacco use
Unhealthy diet
Excessive alcohol use

Symptoms of Heart Disease

Because heart disease refers to a number of conditions the symptoms vary. For many the first sign of heart disease is chest discomfort or heart attack. Call 911 if you have symptoms of heart attack or stroke.

Symptoms of Heart Attack [5]

Chest discomfort
Discomfort in other areas of the upper body
Shortness of breath
Other signs: cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness

Symptoms of Stroke [5]

Spot a stroke FAST

F=Face Drooping
A=Arm Weakness
S=Speech Difficulty
T=Time to call 911

High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure is defined as the pressure of blood pushing against the artery walls. Blood pressure is measured using two numbers: systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure. Systolic blood pressure measures the pressure in arteries when the heart beats, and diastolic measures the pressure in arteries between heart beats [6].

What is high blood pressure?

High blood pressure is also known as hypertension. While your blood pressure fluctuates throughout the day due to your activities, high blood pressure occurs when measurements are consistently above normal (normal is defined by the CDC as less than 120/80 mmHg) [6].

High blood pressure puts you at higher risk for other health problems including heart disease, heart attack and stroke [6]. It also can hurt your heart, brain, kidneys, and eyes [6].

Cholesterol

What is cholesterol?

Blood cholesterol is a fat-like, waxy substance naturally made by your liver. You produced all the blood cholesterol your body needs, which is why it is recommended that you eat as little dietary cholesterol as possible. Blood cholesterol is essential for good health; your body needs it to make hormones and digest fatty foods [7].
Dietary cholesterol is found in animal foods like meat, seafood, poultry, eggs and dairy products. Evidence shows that diets that include less dietary cholesterol are associated with reduced risk of cardiovasular disease [7].

Click here to learn more about cholesterol!

happy older couple with flowers

Behaviors that can negatively affect your cholesterol levels include:

Unealthy diet
Lack of physical activity
Smoking
Being overweight or obese [8]

Heredity and cholesterol

Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is an inherited defect in how the body recycles cholesterol. This causes blood cholesterol levels to be very high [9]. If you have a family history of FH or problems related to high cholesterol get your cholesterol levels checked today.

Lifestyle Changes

If you have high blood cholesterol, making lifestyle changes is a great first step towards lowering your risk of heart disease. Even small changes to your lifestyle now can help prevent medical issues later in life [8]. If lifestyle changes do not reduce your risk enough, your doctor might prescribe medications to help [8].

High cholesterol in Wyoming

In 2019, 28.1% of adult Wyomingites reported having their cholesterol checked, and were told by a health professional that their cholesterol levels were high [10].

Resources to help you manage your cholesterol

Watch this video to help you manage your high cholesterol!
My Cholesterol Guide (PDF)
How Statins Work (PDF) | Spanish (PDF)
Your Cholesterol Score Explained (PDF) | Spanish (PDF)
Cholesterol Questions To Ask Your Doctor (PDF) | Spanish (PDF)
What Are Cholesterol-Lowering Medications? (PDF) | Spanish (PDF)
Cholesterol Myths and Facts (PDF) | Spanish (PDF)
How Can I Improve My Cholesterol? (PDF)

How you can thrive: Preventing Heart Disease

Prevent and Manage High Blood Pressure

Lifestyle changes are key to preventing and managing high blood pressure.Talk to your provider about your physical activity (you should be getting at least 150 minutes of physical activity each week), a healthy diet, keeping a healthy weight, stress management and not smoking. Simple lifestyle changes can help you thrive!

Talk to your health care provider today about your blood pressure

Use the below worksheets and materials to talk to your provider about your blood pressure. Remember to ask your provider if self-monitored blood pressue is the right fit for you! Many providers have blood pressure equipment that patients can use to monitor their blood pressure at home.

Use this worksheet for helpful tips about how to talk to your provider
Use this Blood Pressue log to track your BP!
Take this form with you when you first talk to your provider about your BP
To learn more about you Blood Pressure click here
Learn more about how to monitor your blood pressure at home click here

Healthy Heart Ambassador Blood Pressure Self-Monitoring Program

Program Structure

The Blood Pressure Self-Monitoring program is a 4-month program that includes ten minute consultations with a program facilitator during drop in office hours, weekly check-ins from the program facilitator by phone, email or text, and monthly nutrition education seminars. Program participants are asked to attend two personalized consultations per month (office hours) as well as the monthly nutrition education seminars.

How you can benefit from this program

Joining the Blood Pressure Self-Monitoring program is an investment in your health and a commitment to reducing your risk for heart attack or stroke.
One of the benefits of the program is the support you will receive to develop the habit of self-monitoring to lower or better manage your blood pressure.
The value is in investing in your own health to reduce your risk for heart disease.
The fee for the program also ensures the program is sustainable and can benefit others who have high blood pressure.

Participant Eligibility Requirements

Be at least 18 years old or older
Been diagnosed with high blood pressure and/or are on antihypertensive medication
Not experienced a recent (within the last 12 months) cardiac event
Not have atrial fibrillation or other arrhythmias
Not have or are not at risk for lymphedema

References

1. About heart disease. (2021, January 13). Retrieved February 23, 2021, from www.cdc.gov/heart-disease/about/
2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Underlying Cause of Death, 1999–2018. CDC WONDER Online Database. Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; 2018. Accessed March 12, 2020.
3. Fryar CD, Chen T-C, Li X. Prevalence of uncontrolled risk factors for cardiovascular disease: United States, 1999–2010 pdf icon[PDF-494K]. NCHS data brief, no. 103. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics; 2012. Accessed May 9, 2019.
4. Heart disease facts. (2020, September 08). Retrieved February 23, 2021, from www.cdc.gov/heart-disease/data-research/facts-stats/index.html
5. Heart attack and stroke symptoms. (n.d.). Retrieved February 23, 2021, from www.heart.org/en/about-us/heart-attack-and-stroke-symptoms
6. High blood pressure symptoms and causes. (2020, May 19). Retrieved February 23, 2021, from www.cdc.gov/high-blood-pressure/about/
7. CDC. (2019, February 6). About High Blood Cholesterol. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. www.cdc.gov/cholesterol/about/.
8. Causes of High Cholesterol. www.heart.org. (n.d.). www.heart.org/en/health-topics/cholesterol/causes-of-high-cholesterol.
9. Familial Hypercholesterolemia (FH). www.heart.org. (n.d.). www.heart.org/en/health-topics/cholesterol/causes-of-high-cholesterol/familial-hypercholesterolemia-fh.
10. Wyoming Department of Health; CDPP. Fact Sheet. High Cholesterol. 2021.

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High Blood Pressure Education