Oh So Crazy

Product Reviews, Giveaways, and Personal Anecdotes

You are here: Home / Health & Fitness / Roll up your sleeves… what is high blood pressure and how to prevent it

Roll up your sleeves… what is high blood pressure and how to prevent it

by

I was compensated for sharing this information with you, but all opinions are my own.

Did you know one in three U.S adults have high blood pressure? More than 32% of women! This costs the nation $47.5 billion annually in direct medical expenses. The sad part is that 20% of people don’t event know they have it! As High Blood Pressure Education Month comes to an end, I thought I’d share some great resources and tips with you from the American Medical Group Association’s (AMGA) Measure Up/Pressure Down program.

red-heartsWhat is high blood pressure?
Blood pressure is the force that blood puts on the walls of your blood vessels as blood flows through them. This naturally rises and falls throughout your day, but when it’s high, it makes your heart work too hard. Like the pipes in a house, your arteries can fail if they are under too much pressure… your risk of heart disease and stroke increases.

How do you prevent high blood pressure?

  • Eat right. Fine tune your diet… read nutrition labels, and use herbs and spices instead of salt to flavor your food!
  • Be active. It only takes 30 minutes of physical activity a day to lower your blood pressure!
  • Reduce stress. This has a HUGE impact on your mind and body. Find healthy ways to cope with stress!
  • Set alcohol limits. One drink a day for women, and two for men.
  • Communicate. Write down your concerns in a journal. Talk to your doctor! Ask questions.
  • Stop tobacco use. Every cigarette you smoke and tobacco you chew raises your blood pressure – as does secondhand smoke affect your loved ones’.
  • Track your numbers. Check your blood pressure often. Know your numbers! Avoid doing things (like drinking coffee) before you get checked. I always make that mistake!
  • Manage all your health issues. High blood pressure can worsen other conditions.
  • Take your medication. It only works when you actually take it – every day at the same time.
  • Know your risks. Know what you can control – your weight, diet, activity level, tobacco and alcohol use – and can’t control – your age, gender, race, and family history.

The scary thing is that you can have high blood pressure and not know it! You may have heard people call it the silent killer. This is why it’s so important to have your blood pressure checked regularly.

As you probably already know, it’s incredibly easy to get your blood pressure checked, and totally painless. You can have yours checked by your doctor, and many pharmacies have free screenings throughout the year. I just had mine checked on Thursday, and it was high… but this is because I always get a little nervous when I go to the doctor. The nurse had me take some deep breaths, adjusted the band, and it was normal on the second try.

To learn more about this condition, please visit:

YOUR TURN: Do you suffer from high blood pressure? Know someone who does? Please share these resources with them!

___________________________________________________

Do you know the facts?
#HBPTips
Infographic source

Reader Interactions

Comments

  3. You know, my blood pressure always goes up a few degrees when I’m at the doctors office, but it’ usually normal. I know it runs in my family. so i watch my blodd pressure numbers pretty closely.
    Wendy´s last blog post ..8 Ways to Avoid Raising A Bully

  9. I’m always surprised by the number of people who have high blood pressure who do the least amount, outside of take medication, to improve their condition. I know several smokers who have high blood pressure, and several people who won’t change their diet or activity level. I know change is never easy, but it is worth it, right?
    Elizabeth Towns´s last blog post ..Back to Consistency: 4-point strategy for success

  18. high blood pressure definitively sucks, I’m 30 weeks pregnant with pre eclamsia and my bp is a roller coaster, already quit all the yummy things and going for medication =(

  19. Being active and eating right are almost the most difficult and the most important here. We have high blood pressure that runs in my family. Both my grandparents on my dad’s side died of heart failure and his brothers and sisters have too. So it’s definitely a big issue.

  21. Mariana, we appreciate you sharing this information about high blood pressure with your readers! We hope this encourages more people to know their numbers and take steps to maintain a healthy blood pressure. You can find these resources and more on our website: http://www.MeasureUpPressureDown.com.

    Thanks!
    -The Measure Up/Pressure Down Team

    Twitter: @MUPDcampaign
    Facebook: /MeasureUpPressureDown