Recognized by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) and sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National High Blood Pressure Education Month of May takes on the issue of educating the public about hypertension. The goal being to reduce disability and even deaths related to the effects of high blood pressure through better educating medical professionals, patients and the public at large. Producing a series of videos for the public, the CDC aims to help medical providers educate the public about the importance of controlling blood pressure.
Hypertension Prevention and Education Videos From the CDC:
CDC Vital Signs: Getting Blood Pressure Under Control
Tips for Taking Blood Pressure Medicines as Directed
Help Patients Take Blood Pressure Medicines as Directed
What Is High Blood Pressure?
Also referred to as hypertension or HBP, high blood pressure is when the force of blood flowing through your blood vessels is consistently too high.
Nearly 50{cf751326d4685bb99dd23a400c777e92eaae7f77476092ec36af525797803eed} of adults in America have high blood pressure and moreover, most don’t even know they have it. The best way to find out if you have high blood pressure is to have your blood pressure checked by a medical professional.
The Silent Killer
Known as the ‘silent killer’, it is very important to be aware of your blood pressure levels. Most of the time, there are no obvious symptoms that call your awareness to this health issue. There are lifestyle choices and physical traits that can put you at a greater risk of hypertension or high blood pressure. When left untreated, you can do significant damage to your circulatory system, which can then contribute to strokes, heart attack and other serious health issues.
Preventing High Blood Pressure
Avoiding high blood pressure is, of course, the best plan of action and a large part of prevention comes in the choices we make in lifestyle. If you find that high blood pressure does become an issue, you can still live a long, healthy and productive life if you properly manage and treat your hypertension.
- Eat a diet that is well-balanced and low in sodium
- Limit alcohol consumption
- Get regular exercise
- Use stress management techniques
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Do not/quit smoking
- Take medications as prescribed
- Work with your doctor