1/7/2019
News Release issued on January 7, 2019.
Rochester-area seniors can receive free blood pressure screenings through a collaboration between the Rochester Area Family YMCA, a leading nonprofit dedicated to strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility, and MedExpress Urgent Care, a neighborhood healthcare provider.
The free blood pressure screenings will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Rochester Y at 709 1st Avenue on the first Monday of every month in 2019. The screenings are open to all seniors in the community. No appointment is necessary. The screenings will be administered by medical professionals from the nearby Rochester MedExpress Urgent Care.
“These screenings add great value for seniors in our community by providing important, age-appropriate health information,” said Virginia Kaczmarek, executive director at the Rochester Area Family YMCA. “It’s a free, easy way to encourage individuals in our community to take control of their health.”
Regular blood pressure checks can help prevent the development of more serious diseases such as hypertension (high blood pressure), which can lead to increased chances of stroke and heart attack. According to the American Heart Association (AHA), 76.4 million American adults have been diagnosed with high blood pressure, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends regular blood pressure screenings for high-risk groups, including seniors.
“We believe blood pressure screenings are so important and provide tremendous health insights," said Cheryl Leighton, center manager, MedExpress. “We’re hoping to provide between 25-30 blood pressure checks at each screening. That means hundreds of local seniors in 2019 will have a better understanding of their blood pressure and can take steps to maintain healthy numbers in the future.”
For more information, visit www.ymcamn.org/locations/rochester_ymca or call 612-230-9622.
About the YMCA of the Greater Twin Cities
The Rochester Area Family YMCA is community hub within the YMCA of the Greater Twin Cities, a leading nonprofit dedicated to strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. Established 162 years ago, the Ys provide life-strengthening services across the greater Twin Cities metro region, southeastern Minnesota and western Wisconsin communities. The 29 Y locations and program sites, eight overnight camps, 10 day camps, and more than 90 child care sites engage more than 350,000 men, women and children of all ages, incomes and backgrounds. To learn more about the Y’s mission and work, visit www.ymcamn.org.