San Diego City Wire

San Diego County released its 2024 Love Your Heart Report on Monday, revealing that the annual February public health campaign provided more than 58,000 people with free blood pressure checks and potentially averted 806 medical emergencies such as strokes or heart attacks.

In February, the County and its partners conducted and recorded a total of 58,079 blood pressure readings. Locally, 193 sites offered free blood pressure checks. Additional sites were available throughout Mexico and in Mexican consulates in the United States under the “Ama Tu Corazon” program.

“It is incredible to see this effort strengthen each year with more people and more sites getting involved, all having the same goal to save lives,” said Dr. Eric McDonald, County Health and Human Services Agency interim director. “Together we can take just 5 minutes to protect ourselves and loved ones; we just need more people to know how to Love Your Heart.”

The County initiated the Love Your Heart campaign at 15 sites in 2012. The aim was to help individuals “know their numbers” through free blood pressure checks and promote awareness about the dangers of high blood pressure, often called “the silent killer.”

Each year, these screenings identify underlying health issues for some participants who were otherwise unaware. This year’s screenings indicated that 806 individuals had reached "crisis levels" of blood pressure, prompting them to seek immediate medical attention.

Additionally, another 15,863 people—approximately 27%—were informed that their elevated blood pressure levels classified them as stage 1 or stage 2 hypertensive. These individuals received guidance on improving their blood pressure through stress reduction, weight loss, healthier eating habits, and incorporating exercise into their daily routines.

High blood pressure is a significant risk factor for strokes and heart disease. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), heart disease remains the leading cause of death for men, women, and most racial and ethnic groups in the United States. The CDC notes that high blood pressure is termed “the silent killer” because it typically has no warning symptoms; thus, regular blood pressure checks are essential.

For further information:

County Communications Office

communications@sdcounty.ca.gov

619-595-4633