The Community Health Councils recently kicked off a new campaign designed to help county residents know their blood pressure facts.
“Know Your Digits” (KYD) is a program geared toward alerting the one in three county residents who do not know they have high blood pressure (HBP) that they have the potentially dangerous condition.
Commonly known as high blood pressure, hypertension is a serious condition that often has no symptoms. Untreated hypertension can lead to heart disease, stroke and kidney disease.
The month-long campaign will feature free blood pressure screenings and educational information.
According to the American Heart Association, more than 40 percent of non-Hispanic Blacks have high blood pressure. Not only is HBP more severe in Blacks than Whites, but it also develops earlier in life.
Researchers have also found that there may be a gene that makes African Americans much more salt sensitive. This trait increases the risk of developing HBP. In people who have this gene, as little as one extra gram (half a teaspoon) of salt could raise blood pressure as much as five millimeters of mercury (mm Hg).
The upcoming KYD events are Umma Clinic Wellness Fridays Aug. 15, 22 and 29 from 9-11:30 a.m. at 7600 S. Avalon Blvd., Los Angeles; Aug. 19, 26 from 12:30-3:30 p.m. at the Los Angeles Public Library Vernon branch, 4504 S. Central Ave., Los Angeles; the Girls Club from 10-11 a.m. at 2057 W. Century Blvd., Los Angeles; on Aug. 26, Institute for Maximum Human Potential, 9624 Compton Ave. from 3-5 p.m.; The Watts Public Library, 10205 Compton Ave. on Aug. 30 from 10:30 a.m.-1 :30 p.m., and Aug. 31 at All Saints Highland Park, 5619 Monte Vista St., Los Angeles from 10:45 a.m.-2 p.m.
