​The Perry Fire Department provides "walk-in" blood pressure screening for residents at both fire stations: Station #1 located at 3742 Center Road and Station #2 located at 3870 South Ridge Road. Firefighters can check your blood pressure, "free of charge" during regular business hours between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm. If you are planning to come after 5:00 pm or on the weekend, it is best to first call the fire station at 44-259-2880. If you are not feeling well and have symptoms such as headache, dizziness, nausea, chest pain, or shortness of breath, we encourage you not to drive to the fire station to have your blood pressure checked. The best thing to do is call 911 and let us come to you.

 

High Blood Pressure​

 

The only way to find out if you have high blood pressure (also called hypertension) is to have it checked by a medically trained person. Your blood pressure reading is reported as two numbers, such as 120/80 mmHg (millimeters of mercury). The top or larger number (systolic pressure) measures the pressure in your arteries when your heart beats (pumps). The bottom or smaller number (diastolic pressure) measures the pressure in your arteries when your heart is relaxed or at rest between beats.​

Normal blood pressure is 120/80 or lower. A blood pressure between 120/80 and 139/89 is called “pre-hypertension” or “pre-high blood pressure”. If your blood pressure is usually 140/90 or higher, then you have high blood pressure or hypertension. Untreated high blood pressure can greatly increase your risk of having a stroke, a heart attack, and/or cause kidney damage. 

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Risk factors you should be aware of:

There are several risk factors you are born with that you cannot change, but you should be aware of them because they increase your risk for developing cardiovascular disease. They are: your increasing age (your risks increase with your age), your gender (being a male places you at higher risk), your race (African Americans have the highest risk), your family medical history (you are at a higher risk if your parents and/or brothers and sisters have had strokes or heart attacks) and your own personal medical history (you are at higher risk if you have already had a stroke, a heart attack, diabetes and/or kidney problems).

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Risk factors you can change (lifestyle choices):
High blood pressure – you can work with your health care provider to control or lower it.
Tobacco use – you can get help and quit using any form of tobacco.
Poor eating habits and nutrition – you can get help and change the way you eat to reduce salt (sodium) and fats (animal foods) and learn to eat healthier foods (fruits and vegetables), all of which will help you to lower your cholesterol, lose weight, and feel better.
Lack of physical activity – you can start a walking program with your health care provider’s encouragement. You can ask other family members and friends to join you in walking and other physical activities.
Obesity – exercising on a regular basis and eating healthier foods is an excellent start to losing weight. There are many community programs to help you get started. 
Diabetes – if you have diabetes, you can work closely with your health provider to learn how to control it. Controlling your diabetes on a daily basis will reduce your risk of a stroke or heart attack.