Mega Doctor News
Known as a ‘silent killer,’ hypertension, or high blood pressure, occurs when the force of blood pushing against the artery walls is consistently too high. Over time, that can damage the arteries and lead to serious complications like heart attack and stroke.
Nearly half of all adults in the United States have hypertension, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, with one in four adults having their hypertension under control.
But high blood pressure is a major health concern for older adults, with 70% of Americans over the age of 65 having hypertension, per the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.
The consequences of failing to keep one’s blood pressure in check can be fatal. In 2022, high blood pressure was a primary contributing cause of nearly 700,000 deaths in the Unites States.
Sadly, uncontrolled high blood pressure is common as many people who have hypertension are unaware of it because symptoms typically don’t occur until the condition has caused significant health problems.
Fortunately, in most cases, high blood pressure can be managed, which lowers the risk for serious medical conditions. By making healthy lifestyle decisions like implementing more physical activity and maintaining a healthy diet and weight as well as managing stress, hypertension doesn’t have to take a major toll on health.
To educate the senior community on the risks of hypertension and how it can be treated, South Texas Health System and Prominence Health will dedicate the latest installment of their popular Senior Living Seminar Series to the life-threatening condition.
Entitled “Living with Hypertension,” the seminar will spotlight the causes, effects and potential treatments for high blood pressure in seniors.
During the seminar, taking place in the Texas Room at South Texas Health System Edinburg on Friday, October 4 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., participants will learn about the risk factors and warning signs of hypertension as well as treatment options and ways to manage high blood pressure from a local physician, hear from a patient living with the condition and learn how healthy cooking and exercise can help people check their blood pressure in check.
In addition to the talks and demonstrations, the seminar will include a community health fair featuring no cost health screenings including blood pressure and glucometer checks.
For more information, and to register for this free event, please contact Veronica Galligan at 956-821-9569 or by email at Veronica.Galligan@uhsinc.com
| Who: | South Texas Health System & Prominence Health |
| What: | Living with Hypertension, Senior Living Seminar |
| When: | Friday, October 4, 2024, from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. |
| Where: | Texas RoomSouth Texas Health System Edinburg1102 W. Trenton Rd. Edinburg, TX. 78539 |
About South Texas Health System
South Texas Health System is a multi-facility healthcare system serving patients throughout the Rio Grande Valley. The system includes four acute care facility campuses with specialties in pediatrics, heart and vascular services, maternity and women’s health and trauma services. Inpatient and outpatient treatment for behavioral health needs and addictive disorders is also provided through the system’s South Texas Health System Behavioral facility. South Texas Health System is affiliated with the South Texas Clinical Partners ACO, Prominence Health Plan, and Cornerstone Regional Hospital. The system operates an advanced Level I Trauma Center at South Texas Health System McAllen, the first and only freestanding children’s facility and pediatric ER at South Texas Health System Children’s, the region’s only freestanding heart hospital and specialized cardiac ER at South Texas Health System Heart, and six freestanding emergency rooms located in and around Weslaco, Mission, Edinburg, McAllen and Alamo. For more information about the system and its comprehensive services, please visit www.southtexashealthsystem.com.
About Prominence Health
Prominence Health began in 1993 as a health maintenance organization (HMO) and became of a subsidiary of Universal Health Services, Inc. (UHS) in 2014. They provide coverage to more than 60,000 fully insured, self-funded and Medicare Advantage members throughout Nevada and parts of Texas. Prominence operates seven Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) in California, Florida, Nevada, South Carolina, Texas and Washington D.C., which are managed care systems that benefit communities by providing coordinated, high-quality care to Medicare patients. For more information about Prominence Health, visit ProminenceHealthPlan.com or ProminenceMedicare.com.
