Blood Pressure Lifestyle Management (BLSM) Program at JHAH | Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare
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Blood Pressure Lifestyle Management (BLSM) Program at JHAH

Achieving population wellbeing and improving the quality of life of our patients at JHAH

 Do you ever pause and think about the critical things that could happen to your body as you indulge in your morning coffee or breakfast? Are you at risk for a long-term chronic disease? We are often guilty of not being consciously aware of our diet. It is essential to take note of your daily food consumption, and your body's actual needs, which includes resisting some food urges and adopting an active lifestyle. We must understand that our bodies change with time to better approach our health.

 

Hypertension (HTN) and prehypertension are health issues affecting many aspects of life worldwide. It can affect a nation economically and socially. The risk of this chronic disease increases if it's combined with other metabolic diseases such as obesity and diabetes (1). Statistics indicate that an estimated 1.13 billion people globally have Hypertension (HTN), according to World Health Organization (WHO) (2), representing almost 15% of the world's population. In Saudi Arabia, a study revealed that the prevalence of HTN among Saudis has reached 31.4%. In another comprehensive survey conducted in Saudi Arabia, the percentage of hypertensive patients who were unaware of their situation reached 57.8% (2). These are significant numbers that should not be ignored.

A study conducted in India found that people in military service are more likely to be protected from HTN and its implications due to adopting an active lifestyle. Moreover, obesity, family history, and an inactive lifestyle are all risk factors that increase the probability of being hypertensive (1). That means controlling one or more of these factors reduces the likelihood of HTN.

The Population Health Division at JHAH is dedicated to supporting patients with high probabilities of being potentially hypertensive by encouraging them to participate in a well-established program focusing on early identification of elevated BP or untreated HTN. Our experts at JHAH will take you through a journey of dealing with prehypertension via a comprehensive lifestyle management program called Blood Pressure Lifestyle Management (BLSM).

 

The Blood Pressure Lifestyle Management Program (BLSM) at JHAH is a health promotion program designed for potentially hypertensive patients based on the initial assessment of BP and Body Mass Index (BMI) in Primary Care. 

The BLSM program allows pre-hypertensive patients to make proper behavioral modifications regarding diet, physical activities, and weight control. Through six live virtual sessions, reinforced by video-assisted and web-based lifestyle intervention, patients will be prompted to reconsider their current habits and adopt new ones for a healthy life. Over three months of the program, the patients will perform an initial and end-point assessment for BP and BMI to measure the program's impact.

 

The BLSM Program is open to eligible patients with an active MyChart account. The Health Promotion Team at JHAH selects participants based on specific criteria such as BP reads and BMI measurements within a particular age group and health condition. For more information about the BLSM program and eligibility, contact Heath Promotion team.

A milestone to be highlighted

The results of the program's first cohort of participating patients are promising. Our data shows significant changes in the level of BP; 66% of patients whose initial assessment showed signs of Hypertension reverted to the normal read at the end of the program. Surprisingly, 43% of patients who participated in the program maintained normal reads during the period of the program. Almost 40% of participating patients in this group were considered obese, and 34% were pre-hypertensive. Today, the BLSM program is continuing with a second cohort to ensure the sustainability of these encouraging results to improve the quality of our patients' lives.

Health and wellbeing

Health programs for you

At JHAH, we are here for you not just when you are ill, but also to help you stay well. That is why we have a range of programs to help you create a healthier you.

We believe in providing help and support to achieve and maintain improved health and wellbeing, from programs that support you in achieving better health outcomes, to self-management guides for long-term health conditions. It is all part of our commitment to helping you live a healthier, happier life.

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