Res 1059-2016

By Council Members Eugene and Cohen Whereas, The American Heart Association ("AHA") warns that high blood pressure is a "silent killer" because it has no symptoms and many people are unaware of it; and Whereas, When left untreated, high blood pressure could lead to vision loss, artery and kidney damage, stroke, heart disease and loss of life; and Whereas, The AHA stresses the importance of monitoring one's blood pressure through regular medical checkups with a health provider, or at home, yet many of those who are most at risk of high blood pressure, such as uninsured, lower income, senior citizen, and homeless individuals, do not have regular access to health providers or to devices that would enable them to monitor their blood pressure; and Whereas, The Department of Health and Mental Hygiene reports that three in ten residents of New York City have been told that they have high blood pressure and that hundreds of thousands more have it but do not know they have it; and Whereas, The New York State Department of Health reports that 31% of all adults and 62% of adults over 65 report being told by a health professional that they have high blood pressure; and Whereas, Providing free access to automated blood pressure machines in public places could help those without access to testing resources to routinely self-monitor their blood pressure and seek potentially life-saving care in the event of high readings; now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York call upon the state of New York to provide public automated blood pressure machines in public places throughout the state. LS #7350 PLS 3/30/16 1 2