Express Care of Ocala Provides Free Blood Pressure Screenings

OCALA, Fla. - March 1, 2015 - PRLog -- In addition to hosting the most famed lovers holiday, February also holds the designation of Heart Healthy month.

However, as we leave February behind and move toward spring, Express Care of Ocala encourages residents to take their heart health seriously by monitoring their blood pressure and understanding the risk factors of heart attack and stroke. After all, Heart Disease kills more people each year than all cancers combined.

“That’s why we provide free blood pressure screenings,” said Traci Banta, R.N., Practice Administrator for Express Care of Ocala. “If someone is concerned about their blood pressure — we’re here to advise you. All someone has to do is walk through the door,” she added.

While blood pressure screenings are available at many places, like drug stores, coming to Express Care of Ocala provides patients with a highly experienced team of medical professionals, and if a patient’s blood pressure presents reason for concern, Express Care of Ocala has the ability to perform the same diagnostic tests, such as echocardiograms (https://www.cardiosmart.org/News-and-Events/2013/01/Video...), EKGs, CTs and cardiac enzyme testing, as the ER.

“If these tests determine that a patient is at high risk for a heart attack — we admit them directly to the hospital, right away,” Banta said. “No waiting in the ER. No red tape. We get you right in to the cath lab and the cardiology teams,” she said.

While Hollywood often paints a dramatic portrayal of heart attacks, according to the American Heart Association, the reality is that most of them start slowly, with mild pain or discomfort. Here are some warning signs:

Chest discomfort. Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or that goes away and comes back. It can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain.
Discomfort in other areas of the upper body. Symptoms can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.
Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort.
Other signs may include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea, fatigue and/or lightheadedness.

To learn more about Express Care of Ocala, visit expresscareofocala.com. Learn more about heart health and the risk factors of heart attack and stroke that can be controlled, visit heart.org.