provide a glimpse into your overall health but also help identify warning signs of many serious illnesses. Now finding your numbers can be as easy as taking a trip to the YMCA of Southeast Missouri.
A wellness event called "Know Your Numbers" will be conducted on Oct. 3 at the YMCA and will give the community a chance get a snapshot of their health.
"It's really important to know where you stand, especially with blood pressure and body composition and things like that because if your numbers don't fall within certain ranges you could be at risk for cardiovascular disease as well as any other chronic diseases, such as diabetes and things like that," said JoEllen Crain, an intern at the YMCA who is planning the event. "It's good just to know where you stand and what you can do in order to get those numbers in the correct ranges before it becomes a medical issue."
The event will feature free assessments, such as blood pressure, cardiovascular fitness, muscular endurance and body composition.
"There will be a couple challenges to make it fun," Crain said. "There will be a push up contest, jump rope contest and things like that."
There will also be a presentation about blood pressure that explains what it is, why it is important, what ranges you want to fall within and how to adjust activities and daily living to get numbers within the normal ranges.
There will also be door prizes.
"It's going to be like a punch card system," Crain said. "If you go to each of the stations you fill up a card and you can put your name into a drawing for a prize."
"We are excited to offer an event such as this to our community," said Brandy Mason, member and program experience director at the YMCA. "Although we strive to make fitness and the concept of healthy living fun, we cannot reiterate enough how important these 'numbers' are to know. Being proactive in your health is imperative and can aid in preventing chronic diseases that can have serious consequences."
Mason said she encourages everyone in the community to drop in at the "Know Your Numbers" event, which will be from 4-7 p.m. and is open to the community as well as members of the YMCA.