Harrison County residents can now check out free blood pressure monitoring kits from local libraries, part of an effort to expand access to basic health tools.
The Harrison County Library System partnered with the American Heart Association to launch the Libraries With Heart program on the Gulf Coast, with support from the Leo W. Seal Foundation and the Gulf Coast Heart Walk.
The kits are available for checkout or in-library use but are not for patrons to keep.
Harrison County libraries are the first in Mississippi to offer the program, part of a broader American Heart Association effort to expand blood pressure monitoring and heart health education. The initiative launched in Central Florida and has since expanded to multiple library systems.
“Ensuring health equity is at the heart of our mission. By providing self-monitored blood pressure cuffs to our community, we empower everyone to take control of their heart health,” Jimmy Clarity, vice president of community impact for the American Heart Association, said in a press release. “This initiative is crucial in bridging the gap in health care access, allowing individuals to detect potential issues early and make informed decisions.”
High blood pressure is a leading cause of heart disease and stroke and is often called a “silent killer” because it can develop without symptoms, according to the American Heart Association. Experts say the program is especially relevant along the Gulf Coast, where hypertension rates remain high.
“Mississippi and the Gulf Coast down here have extremely high rates of hypertension when they’re compared to other parts of the country,” Evan Duffy, community outreach director for the American Heart Association, said. “So we want to bring everyone in line with those standards and make sure that everyone has equal access to care and treatment so that we can head off a lot of chronic disease down the road.”
Organizers plan to expand the program into Hancock and Jackson counties.
