by Evelyn H. Ruelas on 2014-02-17

The Loma Linda Senior Center has weekly blood pressure screening events on Wednesdays from 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. There, Priscilla Ko greets seniors and offers free check ups and advice on keeping high blood pressure at bay. High blood pressure, which is also known as hypertension is a factor that the majority of seniors must deal with. Therefore it’s vital to get checked frequently and practice important lifestyle changes that will keep the blood pressure below 140/90mmHg. Without proper monitoring, those with hypertension run the risk of health problems, such as strokes, aneurysms, peripheral arterial disease and chronic kidney disease. “It’s important to exercise regularly and eat healthy, but it’s also good to have a stress free attitude”, says Priscilla Ko, adding that one's personality may be the biggest factor in being at risk of hypertension. She continues that if the person is hot tempered or gets stressed out easily, they are likely a candidate. Senior citizen Fumiko Fisher-Fosdick has high blood pressure and explains that she has fully immersed herself into her art, working on it day to night because it's relaxing, “I don’t think about anything else but what I’m creating”, she says. Fumiko has had no previous education in art, for her it began when her children moved out of her home and she was left feeling "empty nested". With time to spare, she began to pursue art full-time. Hypertension is known as the “silent killer” because it’s rarely accompanied by any symptoms. It's generally identified through screening when seeking healthcare for an unrelated problem; though some people report headaches, lightheadedness, vertigo, tinnitus, altered vision or fainting episodes. As mentioned, high blood pressure results from an interaction of genes with environmental factors, so even though a person cannot change their genes, completely change the environment or make life less stressful, they can make an effort to remain calm by doing something they love while maintaining a healthy lifestyle and getting regular blood pressure screenings. If you or someone is interested in receiving a free blood pressure check up, visit the Loma Linda Senior Center at 25541 Barton Road. If your interested in other services the center has to offer seniors, call (909) 799-2810. You can also visit in their opening hours Monday-Thursday 7 a.m.-5 p.m.