Mansfield Community Fights High Blood Pressure

MANSFIELD, TEX. – High blood pressure emerged as a top priority in Mansfield, Tex., during the 2022 community health needs assessment conducted by Texas Health Resources, with nearly one-third of local adults affected. 

In order to raise awareness about high blood pressure, Texas Health Hospital Mansfield’s chaplain initiated a partnership with the Mansfield Seventh-day Adventist Church to host seven DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) workshops. These workshops, which took place at the Mansfield church, provided a variety of resources, including health checks, educational presentations and interactive cooking demonstrations.

“Upon arrival, participants got their blood pressure, blood sugar levels and weight checked,” shared Lindsey Trook, the hospital’s community relations manager. “Then a physician would speak on healthy eating, the importance of regular health checks and other topics.” After the physician’s presentation, attendees would participate in an interactive cooking demonstration for healthy meals they could recreate at home.  

In addition to the focus on nutrition, the workshops also included an exercise component. “We partnered with the local YMCA,” said Trook, “and their class instructors would conduct an exercise demonstration and speak on the importance of movement at the end of each session.” 

Though the goal of seven workshops has been met, Trook anticipates this will continue to be a resource for the community. “We would love to reach more community members,” she said, “It is a great program, valued by all who attend.”

‍