High Blood Pressure

How can you tell if you have high blood pressure? You usually can’t! Many people have high blood pressure and they don’t even know it. You can find out if your blood pressure is high by having it checked regularly by your doctor.

 

 

 

 

What is High Blood Pressure?

 

High blood pressure (HBP), also called hypertension, means that the pressure inside the arteries of the heart is elevated. Untreated high blood pressure can cause a person to have a heart attack, stroke, heart failure, kidney failure, or peripheral artery disease (PAD). You are at risk for HBP if you are:

 

            -pregnant                                                           -African American

            -over 35 years old                                             -overweight

            -not physically active                                         -consume a lot of salt

            -drink a lot of alcohol                                         -have diabetes

            -have a family history of HBP                           -and more!

 

If you’re at risk or already have high blood pressure, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about lifestyle changes you can make to better your health.

 

Heart Attack

Every 36 seconds, someone dies from heart and blood vessel diseases. Don’t let the next person be you! Talk to your doctor today about lowering your risks for heart attack or stroke.

 

Would you be able to recognize the signs of a heart attack if you or a family member had them? Knowing these signs and seeking help early can one day help save your life or someone else’s.

• Uncomfortable pressure or squeezing in the center of the chest that lasts longer than a few minutes or that comes and goes.
• Trouble breathing with or without chest discomfort
• Pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the neck, back, jaw, or stomach
• Lightheadedness, nausea, or breaking out in a cold sweat

 

If you or someone you’re with has chest discomfort, especially with one or more of these symptoms, call 9-1-1 or seek help within 5 minutes.

 

Stroke

Did you know that SMOKING is a major risk factor for having a STROKE?

If you’ve been looking for a good reason to quit, here it is!

 

What’s a stroke?

For starters, it’s the 3rd leading cause of death in America today. A stroke happens when a blood vessel that feeds the brain gets stopped up or bursts. That part of the brain no longer receives enough oxygen and can stop working, which can cause some other parts of the body to stop working, as well.

 

Are you at risk?

Men, African Americans, and people with diabetes or heart disease have the highest risk of stroke. However, uncontrolled high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and smoking can also increase your risk. 

 

What are the signs and symptoms?

• Sudden onset of numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body
• Trouble seeing, walking, or understanding what someone is saying
• Suddenly feeling dizzy or losing your balance
• Sudden onset of ‘the worst headache of your life’ with no known cause

Call 9-1-1 immediately if you suspect you or someone else is having a stroke.

 

Heart Disease and Women

Did you know that heart disease is the #1 killer of women today? A survey by the American Heart Association noted that women tend to underestimate the threat of heart disease, mistakenly believing that they are more likely to develop breast cancer than heart disease. When, in fact, more than 500,000 women die of heart disease each year. That’s twice the number of deaths from all types of cancer combined!

 

How to stay Heart Healthy

Did you know that the foods around the perimeter of a grocery store tend to be healthier than those down the aisles? This includes items like fruits, vegetables, meats, and dairy products. Foods in the center of the store, like canned foods, are mostly processed or preserved and can contain a lot of extra ingredients (like sodium) that can raise your blood pressure, cholesterol, and even your weight.

 

Your heart LOVES vegetables! 

 

Did you know that one whole egg contains about 215mg of cholesterol? Many doctors recommend consuming less than 200mg of cholesterol per day for people that already have high cholesterol. Cutting or limiting the number of eggs you eat per day or week can greatly contribute to lowering your cholesterol and decreasing your risk of heart disease.

 

If high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, or heart disease runs in your family, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about ways you can reduce your risk of developing these conditions and keep your heart happy and healthy!

 

Exercise can make a world of difference! Exercising at least 30 min a day, 5-7 days a week can help keep your weight down, your energy up, and your heart strong.

 

Excessive alcohol consumption can lead to high blood pressure and heart disease. The American Heart Association recommends limiting alcohol to no more than one drink per day for women or 2 drinks a day for men.

 

Published 02/01/10