👩‍⚕️Self check up: These Florida libraries offer free blood pressure monitor kits

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – February may be American Heart Month, but for 52-year-old Benjamin Garcia, cuffing season is year-round.

“I’m always curious to see what the number is,” said Garcia.

He’s talking about his blood pressure numbers.

“High blood pressure is the number one cause of stroke and heart disease and it is attributed to one in five deaths in Florida,” said HCA Florida Healthcare Stroke Coordinator Melissa Turner.

Garcia said his family has a history of high blood pressure, so checking his numbers is an important step to stay up-to-date on his health.

You can keep tabs on your blood pressure at home by checking out a kit from your local library. The Orange County Library System is partnering with the American Heart Association and HCA Florida Healthcare to offer about 100 kits spread across the library branches — it’s all part of the Libraries with Heart Program.

“We meet them where we are and they can check out materials, check out blood pressure monitors and monitor their health because high blood pressure is a silent killer,” said Windermere Branch Manager Leila Higgins. “The kits can be checked out for three weeks and can be renewed, and the materials are available in English and Spanish.”

How to use a home blood pressure monitor

A cuff that is the incorrect size will cause an inaccurate blood pressure reading. (OCLS has large cuffs available for check out.)

When preparing to take your blood pressure:

• Plan ahead. Don’t smoke, drink caffeinated beverages or exercise within 30 minutes before taking your blood pressure. Empty your bladder.
• Don’t take the measurement over clothes. Remove the clothing over the arm that will be used to measure blood pressure.
• You can use either arm. Usually there is not a big difference between readings on them.
• Be still. Allow at least five minutes of quiet rest before measurements. Don’t talk or use the phone.
• Sit correctly. Sit with your back straight and supported (on a dining chair, rather than a sofa). Your feet should be flat on the floor. Do not cross your legs. Support your arm on a flat surface. The middle of the cuff should be placed on the upper arm at heart level. Check your monitor’s instructions for an illustration or have your health care professional show you how.
• Measure at the same time every day. Take the readings at the same time each day. Talk with your health care professional about how often to take your blood pressure.
• Take multiple readings and record the results. Each time you measure, take two readings one minute apart. Record the results using a printable (PDF) tracker. If your monitor has built-in memory to store your readings, take it with you to your medical appointments. Some monitors may also let you upload your readings to a secure website.

If your blood pressure is too high, you’re recommended to contact your healthcare physician. The kits come with a tracking sheet so you can record the readings and take to your doctor.

“This way you can see the trends. For example, if it’s high in the mornings or afternoons, is it still high even after you take your medications? Do they need to be adjusted?” said Turner.

Through Libraries with Heart, each branch also has an AED on site with staff trained in CPR and first aid so they can quickly respond to emergency situations until medical help arrives.

The blood pressure monitor kits are free to check out at OCLS libraries to members. Be sure to check with your local library for availability.