UW and Carbon County Library System Offer Blood Pressure Cuffs for Checkout

Self-measured blood pressure monitoring kits are now available for checkout at libraries in Rawlins, Saratoga, Hanna, Medicine Bow, Elk Mountain, Sinclair, Baggs and Encampment through a collaborative pilot project among the Wyoming Center on Aging (WyCOA) at the University of Wyoming, the Wyoming Department of Health’s Chronic Disease Prevention Program and the Carbon County Library System.

The kits, available in both English and Spanish, include an automated home blood pressure cuff; blood pressure logbooks; educational materials from the American Heart Association; 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.

The loan period is two weeks. Blood pressure kits will be automatically renewed, up to two times, if there are no holds on the item. This program also is currently available to people in Albany, Laramie, Lincoln, Natrona, Park, Sheridan, Sublette, Sweetwater and Washakie counties, with plans to be in all 23 counties by the end of June.

Nearly half of adults in the United States -- 47 percent, or 116 million -- have high blood pressure, also known as hypertension, or are taking medication for hypertension, and 24 percent with hypertension have their condition under control, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In Wyoming, 30.7 percent of adults have been told that they have high blood pressure, according to the Wyoming Department of Health’s Chronic Disease Prevention Program.

While self-measurement of blood pressure is not a substitute for regular visits to primary care physicians, it is a way for individuals to see and track their numbers, giving them more information that can be communicated to their doctors.

“Information is power and, the more information a patient and their doctor have, the better the treatment plan,” says Kevin Franke, a senior project coordinator with WyCOA. “Better treatment plans lead to better overall health. That’s the goal of this project -- to work to improve the health of our communities.”

The Carbon County Library System is committed to building and supporting strong, healthy communities. This project provides a unique opportunity to offer the community more information about self-monitored blood pressure and its important role in health.

“We’re thrilled to partner with the Wyoming Department of Health and WyCOA to bring these much-needed resources to the community,” says Maria Wenzel, director of the Carbon County Library System.

For those patrons who are looking to take the next step in their health journey, Carbon County UW Extension is offering the Healthy Heart Ambassador Self-Monitored Blood Pressure Program. The purpose of the program is to develop the habit of routinely self-monitoring patrons’ blood pressure.

The program includes support from a “Healthy Heart ambassador” who will train on the proper technique for taking the patrons’ own blood pressure readings; two consultations with the ambassador each month when the patrons’ blood pressure will be taken; a monthly nutrition education seminar highlighting how food is related to blood pressure management; and monitoring and tracking each patron’s blood pressure at least two times per month.

To learn more about the Carbon County Library System, go to www.carbonlibraries.org/.

To learn more about WyCOA and its programs, go to www.uwyo.edu/wycoa/.

To learn more about the Healthy Heart Ambassador Self-Monitored Blood Pressure Program, call Krista Steiner at (307) 328-2642 or email ksteine5@uwyo.edu.