Healthy Behaviors and Choices (e.g. Fitness, Tobacco, Opioids, Nutrition)
Sharing Session - 30 Minutes
Tiffany Thigpen, MPH
Regional Tobacco Prevention Coordinator/ Public Health Education Specialist
Pitt County Health Department
Blair Savoca, MPH, CHES
Health Education Specialist
Pitt County Health Department
Allison Swart, MPH
Health Educator
Pitt County Health Department
High blood pressure affects millions of Americans. According to the American Heart Association, blood pressure self-monitoring is one way a person can manage their hypertension. North Carolina’s Pitt County Health Department staff is working to create access to self-monitoring blood pressure machines in places where people live, work, play, and worship. By incorporating Policy, Systems, and Environmental changes, they hope to reduce the burden of the effects of high blood pressure on a population with a high prevalence of heart disease and stroke. Pitt County’s Health Department staff is also partnering with local physicians and clinical staff to promote the use of the American Heart Association’s Check, Change, Control tracker to encourage blood pressure management through self-monitoring of blood pressure and knowing your blood pressure numbers.