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If we suggested visiting your local library to check out ‘The Silent Killer’, you might expect someone to hand you a crime fiction book. But as our reporter, Tom Howe, discovered when he did just that – you’d be wrong.
One in ten adults don’t know they have high blood pressure, which is why it’s called ‘The Silent Killer’. It’s also why St Austell Library now has blood pressure monitors available for you to freely borrow.
The award winning, Grade II-listed, building in the heart of St Austell, prides itself on being more than a place to check out a good read.
“We’re more than a library, we are a community hub,” says Helen Barden, who now volunteers as a relief librarian following a 30-year career in Library Services.
Talking to CHAOS Radio, Helen explained how the blood pressure monitors are part of a wider package of measures now available in the library until mid-October.
In partnership with Healthy Cornwall, the library now offers a kiosk where you can also check your heart rate, height, weight, and body fat.
Available Services Include:
- Blood Pressure Measurement: Know your numbers to avoid health risks.
- Heart Rate Monitoring: Quick and easy checks.
- Physical Measurements: Height, weight, and body fat analysis.
It’s completely free to use and your personal results are confidential. You can have them printed or emailed directly to you – making it simple to track your health.
And while reading is the ultimate way to relax, if you’re planning on diving into the thrilling pages of books like Bridgerton or Fifty Shades of Grey – we’d perhaps recommend checking your blood pressure and heart rate on your way in, rather than on your way out of the library!
St Austell Library is free, has something for everyone, and is open to all. You’ll find it opposite Poltair Park with its doors open Monday to Friday from 09:00 to 17:00 and on Saturday mornings from 10:00 to 13:00.
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