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Show High Blood Pressure, the Silent Killer The Southwestern Utah District Health Department has designated June as "High Blood Pressure Month" in an effort to give greater knowledge to the dangers and treatment of the disease. High blood pressure, or hypertension, has reached epidemic proportions in the United States, in the words of many medical authorities. In the Southwestern Utah Health District there are an estimated 3780 people who suffer from this silent killer: silent because it usually has no symptoms to warn its victims; a killer because hypertension is the leading contributor to heart disease, kidney disease and stroke in the country. Dr. W. David Trafton, Medical Director of the Southwest Health District, stresses the need for an education campaign. "Unfortunately," Trafton said, "most people don't realize how serious untreated un-treated high blood prssure can be. Far too many people who know they have high blood pressure ignore it because they may feel fine. Since the disease usually has no symptoms, they, tend to disregard their doctor's advice. "This is a tragedy because medication exists to control this disease and add as many as 20 years of productive life to a person who detects his high blood pressure early and treats it regularly. In some cases just m$m pill liny is enough to keep blood pressure within a normal, healthy range. Marge Griffin, Nursing Supervisor for the program, said, "We'll consider High Blood Pressure Month a success if we can reach 430 people by June 1978 who have high blood pressure and either don't know it or aren't doing anything to treat it. We want to convince them of the danger of this disease and the extreme importance of early detection and treatment. Too many people may learn that they have high blood pressure, take their medication for a while and then stop. We've got to reach these treatment 'dropouts' and get them to resume their medication... today and for the rest of their lives." During High Blood Pressure Month the Southwest South-west Utah District Health Department urges everyone to have their blood pressures checked; if elevated consistently, con-sistently, to see your private doctor and get on treatment if he prescirbes it. But the essential thing to. remember if you have high blood pressure, is that only by staying on treatment can you be as healthy as you may feel, Trafton said. During June the Southwest Health Department will offer free blood pressure screening clinics on June 10 at the South Main Square, 4 p.m. to7p.m. and June 11, at the South Main Square, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. |