WPSD Healthy Heart Health Fair may have saved woman's life

PADUCAH — Thousands of people took advantage of free health screenings at WPSD’s Health Heart Health Fair at the Kentucky Oaks Mall.

It was the blood pressure screening that likely saved 54-year-old Debra Holmes’ life. Holmes’ 202/120 blood pressure was high enough for her to go directly to the hospital.

“Nornally, I don’t check my blood pressure, so I don’t know if it’s sky-high like that or not,” Holmes said.

Dr. Patrick Withrow is the Chief Medical Officer at Western Baptist Hospital. He said events like this help people like Holmes realize your health is important.

“The more a person knows about their health, even from a screening, the better off they will be,” he said.

Holmes doesn’t have insurance and said she can’t even afford to pay for a doctor’s visit. With so many people struggling to pay their bills, Withrow said more and more people are forgoing medical coverage.

“Health care, oftentimes, is one of the first things to go and so this doesn’t replace a physician but again it is a free health screening, which is important.”

Holmes, who has had high blood pressure before, said this scare is making her change her habits.

“I hope my husband sees this and maybe it will hit home with him,” she said.