Marinette, Wis. - Aurora Health Center in Marinette, 4061 Old Peshtigo Road, will offer a free blood pressure screening on Friday, Feb. 6 to raise awareness of heart disease.

Friday, Feb. 6 is National Wear Red Day, a day when Americans nationwide, including Aurora caregivers, will wear red to show their support for women's heart disease awareness. Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of men and women.

No appointments are necessary. Patients should check in at the front reception desk. For more information, call 715-732-8000.

As a reminder, Aurora's Marinette Menominee Clinic, 3130 Shore Drive, offers free blood pressure screenings every Thursday from 1:30 to 3 p.m.

Blood pressure is the pressure of the blood against the walls of the arteries. Two numbers measure a person's blood pressure:

• Systolic pressure (higher number) represents the pressure while the heart contracts to pump blood to the body.
• Diastolic pressure (lower number) represents the pressure when the heart relaxes between beats.

People should aim for a blood pressure below 120 (systolic) over 80 (diastolic). A blood pressure of 120 to 139 over 80 to 89 is considered prehypertension. Elevated blood pressure is a reading of 140 over 90 or higher.

According to the American Heart Association, about one in three U.S. adults has high blood pressure. There are no symptoms and a calm, relaxed person can still have high blood pressure.

High blood pressure is a risk factor for stroke, heart attack, heart failure or kidney failure.

Aurora Health Care is a not-for-profit Wisconsin health care provider and a nationally recognized leader in efforts to improve the quality of health care. Aurora offers services at sites in more than 90 communities throughout eastern Wisconsin.

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Contact: Jen Strebel (920-496-6369)