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

Self-measured blood pressure monitoring kits are now available for checkout at the Niobrara County Library in Lusk. The kits are offered through a collaborative pilot project involving the Wyoming Center on Aging (WyCOA) at the University of Wyoming, the Wyoming Department of Health’s Chronic Disease Prevention Program and the Niobrara 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 and Cent$ible Nutrition Program.

The loan period is three weeks. Blood pressure kits can be renewed, up to two times, if there are no holds on the item. Failure to return a blood pressure cuff kit will result in a blocked account until the item is returned. This program also is currently available to residents in Albany, Campbell, Carbon, Crook, Laramie, Lincoln, Natrona, Park, Sheridan, Sublette, Sweetwater, Washakie and Weston 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. According to the Wyoming Department of Health’s Chronic Disease Prevention Programs, nearly one in three (30.7 percent) Wyoming adults have been told that they have high blood pressure.

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

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

“We are excited to partner with the Wyoming Department of Health and WyCOA to bring these much-needed resources to the community,” says Debbie Sturman, director of the Niobrara County Library.

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

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

To learn more about the programs offered by WyCOA, go to www.uwyo.edu/healthierwyo/.

To learn more about the Niobrara County Library System, go to www.niobraracountylibrary.org/.

To learn more about the Healthy Heart Ambassador Self-Monitored Blood Pressure Program, call Crystal Zerbe at (307) 334-3535 or email cjorda20@uwyo.edu.