Blood Pressure Checks at Kist
by KXMB TV Sarah Gustin
Posted on 6/23/2010
Blood Pressure Checks at Kist |
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Ranching can be stressful, time consuming and hard on your health. In fact many cattlemen spend so much time taking care of their livestock, they forget to take care of themselves. But at Kist Livestock, monthly check-ups are becoming a part of sale day.
“Look at that! 102 over 65,” says Bonnie Tomac, St.
“I don’t have to leave work to spend time at the doctor’s clinic or hospital. It takes 5 minutes,” says cattle buyer Allan Glatt.
Not having the to go to the doctor isn’t a good enough excuse anymore. St. Alexius Medical Center for Family Medicine in Mandan is taking their practice to the sales barn.
“I just thought it would be fun to bring this to the sale barn so that we can get guys that are walking through, have them sit down and take their blood pressure,” states Tomac. She can be found at Kist Livestock one Wednesday every month.
Tomac says she came up with the idea because she knows ranchers aren’t very good at making time for themselves
“I think it is very important that we take care of the people who produce the food that we eat. Farmers and ranchers are some of the hardest working people I know. They are up at the crack of dawn. They don’t go to bed until late at night, so it’s just important that we take care of them,” says Tomac.
“I got a blood pressure machine and I don’t use it,” says New Salem rancher Virgil Kilen.
“I think that after you do it once… if I come up here and do it, I will walk back in there and they will all laugh at me, but then I will tell them go out and get your’s checked. It’s going to be a deal where pretty soon two, three more guys will think about it,” says Glatt. “We don’t have to go to the clinic. We don’t have to leave work.”
Tomac says for the most part the readings have been pretty healthy But sometimes they need to come back for another try because stress can be a factor.
“If you are getting a good price for your cows or your bulls, your blood pressure is probably going to be high. But then again, if you are getting a low price for your bulls or calves, it’s probably going to be high too.” Tomac says three high readings is a sign it’s time to see your doctor
“If we find something wrong, we can always refer them back to their primary physician or come right over to our clinic. We have a great big parking lot that can fit nice long horse trailers.”
Tomac says the first time they offered the blood pressure screenings… more than 70 people took advantage of it.