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Health First presents Wellness Wednesday, other events  Wellness Wednesday is offered to employees most Wednesdays in the lobby of the Children’s Hospital. Different topics related to physical or emotional health are presented. Screenings are often provided also.   Nursing student with the Population Focused Nursing Course, Dan Cordrey, measures Frazalee McNeil shoulder flexibility during the weekly Wellness Wednesday. Body fat analysis, heart disease risk screening and waist-to-hip ratio measurements will be available to employees on June 6 during the Wellness Wednesday that focuses on exercise and blood pressure.   Handouts and screening for blood pressure will be provided by Annie Cruzan from the Harper Wellness Center. Jack Kenna, also from the Harper Student Center also will be giving free, five-minute massages.   Blood pressure is the measure of the force of blood pushing on the arterial walls. The top number is the systolic pressure and represents the pressure when the heart is contracting. The bottom number is the diastolic pressure and represents the pressure when the heart is resting. High blood pressure, or hypertension, is called the silent killer since it is generally asymptomatic. Nearly one-third of adults in the United States have high blood pressure and one-third of this group does not know they have it. Getting blood pressure checked regularly is recommended for protection and early detection.   Wellness Wednesday often offers blood pressure screenings as part of its ongoing program. Blood pressure ranges are: Most desired blood pressure—120/80 or below; Pre-hypertension—120 to 139/80 to 89; Hypertension—140/90 and above; and Hypertension (very high)—160/100 and above.   Risk factors for hypertension include: lack of physical activity, diabetes, increasing age, and African-American.   If you have hypertension, you are at higher risk for: stroke, heart disease, heart attack, and kidney failure.   Meanwhile, the American Heart Association has said that blood pressure can be reduced significantly after only 12 weeks of daily aerobic exercise. Physical activity alone has recently been shown to lower blood pressure and weight more than diet alone. A study of two workplace programs promoting self-care and increased exercise showed a reduction in blood pressure among its employees by 45 percent and 64 percent respectively.   What can you do to protect your heart and manage your high blood pressure? 30 minutes of daily exercise (10-minute walks off and on all day are effective) Take your blood pressure medications (if prescribed) and do not stop them without consulting your provider first Eat a low salt diet Eat a diet high in vegetables and fruits If you do eat dairy products, make sure they are fat free or low fat Limit alcohol intake Manage stress Stop smoking Lose weight if overweight Fitness testing a great success Harper Wellness Center employees and College of Nursing students provided fitness testing for BMI, strength, balance, flexibility, and cardiovascular health for 75 MUSC employees on May 25. A summary of results will be mailed to each participant. Comments from students about what they learned included:   “There’s a lot of patient education in nursing. This was helpful in teaching patients how to improve their lifestyle.”—Andrew Bissett   “[I] enjoyed learning new skills such as bio-impedence for body fat analysis. Enjoyed working with such a variety of participants. Being able to repeat the skills-experience in the hospital doesn’t offer this as much.” —Dan Cordrey   “It helped to actually be involved with people in the community and assume the role of a professional. [I] want to read more about the screenings they performed.” —Amy Letson    “[I] enjoyed interacting with so many people and communicating with people about things they need to know about themselves.” —Katie Williams   The Wellness Center plans to offer fitness testing again in the fall. Editor's note: The preceding column was brought to you on behalf of Health First. Striving to bring various topics and representing numerous employee wellness organizations and committees on campus, this weekly column seeks to provide MUSC, MUHA, and UMA employees with current and helpful information concerning all aspects of health.     Friday, June 2, 2006 Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Island papers at 849-1778, ext. 201.