Public health nurse Penny outlines blood‑pressure risks and local screening schedule in Northborough luncheon's health talk

At a March “Luncheon Learn” hosted by the Town of Northborough Health and Human Services, public health nurse Penny of the Greater Boroughs Partnership for Health urged residents to get regular blood‑pressure screenings, described what the numbers mean and listed local places and times for free or low‑barrier checks.

Penny said the partnership runs routine vaccination and screening clinics across member towns and that last year the program “administered close to 400 flu vaccines to residents,” including an annual drive‑thru at Algonquin that delivered “about 220 vaccines there.” She described blood‑pressure screening as a core service and emphasized that high blood pressure often has no symptoms and raises the risk of heart attack and stroke.

“We do a lot of blood pressure screenings,” Penny said, and explained that the systolic (top) number measures pressure when the heart contracts while the diastolic (bottom) number measures pressure when the heart is at rest. She defined normal blood pressure as “anything under 120 over anything under 80,” called elevated readings a sign to adopt heart‑healthy habits and identified stage‑1 hypertension as “130 to 139 over 80 to 89.” She also warned that a hypertensive crisis is generally considered when systolic pressure is above 180 or diastolic is over 120 and advised calling 911 for severe symptoms such as chest pain or sudden weakness.

Penny stressed reversible risk factors and everyday steps residents can take: reduce sodium, follow a DASH‑style diet (fruits, vegetables, fiber, lower saturated fat), and increase potassium where medically appropriate. She cited a sodium target range of about 1,500–2,300 mg daily and a potassium guideline of roughly 3,500–5,000 mg for people without kidney disease, noting that people with kidney disease should follow clinician guidance. “Everybody can use less salt,” she said.

She recommended regular physical activity—about 150 minutes of moderate or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise weekly—weight management, quitting tobacco and stress‑reduction practices such as yoga or meditation.

On measurement and home monitoring, Penny advised correct technique: sit with both feet flat on the floor and keep the cuffed arm at heart level, be relaxed and, if monitoring at home, follow the schedule advised by a primary‑care clinician. In response to an audience question about temporary influences on readings, she said there are modifiable factors (caffeine, diet, recent activity) and nonmodifiable factors (age, family history, some medical conditions) that affect blood pressure.

Penny listed recurring local screening opportunities: monthly clinics at the Northborough Housing Authority and the Boylston Town House; weekly screenings at the Northborough Senior Center on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.; a weekly clinic at the Westborough Senior Center on Tuesdays, 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.; and upcoming Boylston Library screenings on April 11 and May 7, 11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. She said residents who cannot attend scheduled clinics can request an appointment and that the department posts schedules on town websites and social media.

Liz Nolan, Outreach Coordinator for Northborough Health and Human Services, closed the session by promoting the April Luncheon Learn (featuring department director Isabella Caruso for Public Health Week) and a wellness fair scheduled for April 15 at the library from 5:00–7:00 p.m. The talk displayed contact information for the department; Penny said residents may also call town hall to be connected. (The transcript showed the on‑screen address as northboroma.gov; the department’s site is northboroughma.gov.)

The presentation served as both a refresher on clinical thresholds and a practical service notice: Penny encouraged residents to use the listed clinics and to follow up with primary‑care providers when readings are elevated. The department said more event details and clinic schedules are available on the Town of Northborough website.