DETROIT – According to the American Heart Association, nearly half of U.S. adults have high blood pressure.
But many people have no clue they’re part of that club. That’s because the only way to know you have high blood pressure is to have your blood pressure checked regularly.
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Left untreated, high blood pressure can dramatically increase the risk of developing heart disease or suffering a stroke.
For that reason, knowing your blood pressure numbers is one of the most important things you can do to monitor your health. Many people are discovering, that’s easier than they think.
At the Popoff Family Health Center in Detroit, anyone 18 and up can walk in and check their numbers at the blood pressure hub.
“Blood pressure hubs, they’re located right in the lobby. You don’t have to be a patient here. It’s truly for the community,” said Loretta Bush, president and CEO of Authority Health and the Authority Health Centers.
If the numbers are high, help is just steps away.
“We can help interpret what that means. We can get you care immediately if you need it, either here or refer you back to your primary care doctor,” said Bush.
High blood pressure is called a silent killer because it generally doesn’t cause any symptoms until after serious damage is done. Hubs can help people get help sooner.
Authority Health said this hub has been open for over a year. It’s typically used daily and has already made a difference.
“So the patient was back being seen, the friend was sitting in the lobby and they decided to just put their arm into the blood pressure hub,” said Bush. “They took their blood pressure and they were found to have an excessively high blood pressure. And so even though they were here visiting, you know, with a friend here to escort them, we found that their blood was high, and so they were immediately able to come to the window and be seen and be given the proper advice.”
The hubs were funded through a grant from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.
“We received funding to put hubs not only in one place, but in all four of our locations. But we knew that we wanted to once again partner with the American Heart Association. So they came in, they did training, they made sure we bought the right equipment,” said Bush.
The American Heart Association also provides educational materials and videos to help people better understand their blood pressure and why controlling it is so important.
“When you look at the blood pressure hub, we have infographics, we have videos, we have all sorts of resources and materials that are really there to support individuals in the community,” said Karine Pawlicki, community impact director for the American Heart Association in Southeast Michigan.
Pawlicki said the hubs also help address health disparities.
“This is one of those places. It’s become a home for the community. It’s a trusted location. It’s been here for many years, and it’s a place where people feel comfortable, people feel heard, and people feel that they will get the care that they need and deserve,” said Pawlicki.
The hub is also an option for people who need regular blood pressure checks, but don’t have a cuff at home.
“It’s not possible for everyone,” explained Bush. “And even though there’s more access to at-home blood pressure cups, which we also distribute those as well and teach people how to use them correctly, how many people have them at home but just still don’t use them or don’t used them correctly.”
The cuff at the hub is also calibrated regularly, which is important for accurate readings.
“When we’re taking our blood pressure, if we get a bad reading, it can lead to a bad diagnosis, right? It can also trigger alarm if people are at home taking their blood pressure with the wrong kind of cuff or something that’s not calibrated,” said Bush. “Certainly if you have one at home and you’re using it appropriately, great. But this one, having it in the community, having easy access to it, it’s another tool in the toolbox.”
The American Heart Association said there are now 36 community blood pressure screening hubs throughout southeast Michigan, with plans to add more. Listed below are some of those locations. It’s recommended that you contact the facility to check their hours before visiting the hub.
Wayne County
- River Rouge Library (221 Burke St, River Rouge, MI 48218)
- Corktown Health (1726 Howard St, Detroit, MI 48216)
- Eastside Community Network (4401 Conner St, Detroit, MI 48215)
- Authority Health Popoff Center (10809 Mack Ave, Detroit, MI 48214)
- Authority Health Hope Health (12121 Broadstreet Ave, Detroit, MI 48204)
- Brilliant Detroit locations have hubs, but folks will need to call to verify access hours.
Washtenaw
- Meri Lou Rec Center (2960 Washtenaw Ave, Ann Arbor, MI 48104)
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