Video on blood pressure available in Salish

A new video produced by a former director of the People’s Center focuses on people with high blood pressure.

Lucy Vanderburg, who also provided Salish translation and voiceover, produced the four-minute-long video.

The Montana Cardiovascular Health Program, the press release states, developed the video which demonstrates how to properly use a digital blood pressure cuff.

A blood pressure monitor helps measure the force of the flow of blood in the body.

The upper number, “systolic” pressure, is the measure of the pressure in the blood when the heart beats. The lower, “diastolic” number is the pressure in the blood vessels when the heart rests between beats.

National guidelines for blood pressure readings that pose health risks were recently lowered—from 140/90 mm Hg to 130/80 mm Hg.

High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, can cause vision loss, kidney failure, heart disease and stroke.

Blood pressure increases with age and occurs often in those with diabetes.

Copies of the videos have been provided to Tribal Health for the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, and are also available in multiple versions including Blackfeet, Cree, Crow, English and Northern Cheyenne.

For more information, contact Nancy Grant, Tribal Health Diabetes Program, 406-745-3525, extension 5028.

The videos can also be viewed at www.YouTube.com/MTCVHP.