Events
February
Heart Disease & Hypertension Awareness Month
What is high blood pressure?
High blood pressure is also called hypertension. Blood pressure measures the force pushing outwards on the walls of arteries within your body. Healthy arteries stretch like elastic when blood is pumped through them. When the pressure within these arteries becomes too high, the artery walls are stretched beyond their healthy limit. When the arteries lack their elasticity due to the build-up of cholesterol or plaque, and scarring sets in, the heart must pump harder in order to get blood into and through the arteries. If the arteries become scarred and weak, oxygen and blood cannot flow through the body and feed its major organs. Slightly high blood pressure or pre-hypertension is a blood pressure reading of 120-139/80-89. Hypertension is classified as a blood pressure reading of 140-159/90-99. A blood pressure over 140-159/90-99 requires immediate medical attention.
Presenting Signs/Symptoms and Risk Factors
High blood pressure is sometimes referred to as the “silent killer” because many people go years without knowing they have it. Most people do not even present with symptoms. That is why it is so important to monitor your blood pressure. Risk factors for developing high blood pressure include family history, older age and gender, lack of physical activity, poor diet, obesity, and excessive intake of alcohol. Other possible risk factors include stress, smoking, and second- hand smoke.
Important Statistics
1 out of 3 Americans has high blood pressure. More than 40% of African-Americans have high blood pressure. Nearly half of all adults that have high blood pressure are women. Prevention and Treatment
Prevention of high blood pressure is extremely important. Monitoring your blood pressure each month will let you know right away if your blood pressure is on the rise. Enjoying a diet full of fruits and vegetables, decreasing salt intake, exercising regularly, maintaining a healthy body weight, controlling levels of stress, limiting alcohol intake, and avoiding tobacco use can reduce the risk of high blood pressure. If your blood pressure steadily increases with each monthly check and the readings are consistently above 130/90, seek medical attention for evaluation and further treatment.
http://www.americanheart.org/beatyourrisk/en_US/main.html
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