Blood Pressure Screenings

High blood pressure increases the heart's workload, causing it to enlarge and weaken. It increases the risk for a number of diseases, including congestive heart failure, kidney failure, heart attack, and stroke. When other risk factors are present, the risk from high blood pressure increases several times over.

High blood pressure can be controlled through proper diet, loosing excess weight, regular exercise, restricting salt intake, and through the use of antihypertensive medications (Source: New York State Department of Health: www.state.health.ny.us).

The Columbia County Department of Health offers free blood pressure screenings at the following locations:

Chatham Nutrition Site, Reformed Church Kinderhook St., Chatham
1st Thursday of month from 11:30am-Noon

Philmont Nutrition Site, Albert Tripp Center Main St., Philmont
2nd Wednesday of month from 11:15-11:45am

Copake Nutrition Site, St. Bridget's Church Copake Falls
3rd Wednesday of month from 11:15-11:45am

Hudson Nutrition Site, VFW Warren St., Hudson
4th Wednesday of month from 11:15-11:45am

Cholesterol Screening

High blood cholesterol increases the risk of coronary heart disease, especially when other risk factors are present. Having a total blood cholesterol level of 200 mg/dL or lower is considered desirable by the National Cholesterol Education Program Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults (Adult Treatment Panel III). High cholesterol can be controlled through diet modification, increased physical activity and with the use of lipid lowering agents. The Columbia County Department of Health offers cholesterol screenings monthly on the 4th Monday from 2:00-3:00pm.