One in three adults has high blood pressure and is at risk for heart disease, the No. 1 cause of death in the county.

That is why the Butler YMCA and the Rose E. Schneider Family YMCA are working with Community Health Clinic and Adagio Health to give people the tools to lower their blood pressure through a new community health program.

“Heart disease is the No. 1 killer in Butler County,” said Sandra Ihlenfeld, vice president for organizational advancement at the Butler County YMCA. “This is the easiest way to decrease someone's risk for heart disease. We can give them simple tools to decrease their blood pressure.”

Ihlenfeld said the Butler YMCA received a $5,000 grant earlier in the year from the YMCA of the USA in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to fund a blood pressure self-monitoring program.

The four-month program hopes to give 150 adults who have been diagnosed with hypertension the tools to manage their chronic disease on their own rather than relying on medication.

Through diet, exercise and weight loss, people can take control of their health. Even 10 minutes of exercise is better than none, Ihlenfeld said.

“The biggest thing we're trying to get people to remember is that chronic disease doesn't just happen in one day,” Ihlenfeld said. “It's a bunch of risk factors that increase someone's risk over time. So if you decrease someone's risks over time, there will be healthier people. They'll live longer and be able to help others.”

The program requires participants to check their blood pressure at home at least twice a month, meet with Heart Health Ambassadors at the YMCA at least twice a month and attend monthly nutrition education seminars.

Meeting with the YMCA staff twice a month should only take about 10 minutes and is meant to keep participants accountable and give them support.

“It's a conversation with someone to help keep you on track,” Ihlenfeld said. “You can take charge of this and we will support you.”

The program kicked off at the Rose E. Schneider Family YMCA the week of July 10. Kathy Hensler, health living director at the Y, said it's starting off with great energy. They have 10 people interested so far and are working with several local pharmacies and doctor's offices to get the word out.

Registration also will be available at the Butler YMCA, then the Community Health Clinic and Adagio Health in Butler.

When the program ends, Ihlenfeld said they will run it again with a new batch of participants.

Participants must be 18, have a diagnosis of high blood pressure, not currently be in cardiac rehabilitation and have no arrhythmias. People can still be taking medication to treat their hypertension and be in the program.

Those interested can stop at the YMCA to register. The cost is $40 and that includes a home blood pressure unit. It is $30 for those who already have a home monitoring unit. There is financial assistance available.

The first of four Health Living Nutrition Seminars will be held at 5:30 p.m. on Aug. 23 or 12 p.m. Aug. 25 on “DASH: Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension” at the Rose E. Schneider Family YMCA.