A routine doctor’s appointment
often involves a health professional checking your blood pressure. The
screening is not painful or stressful and typically takes less than a
minute to measure. However, the results of this simple test may identify
a condition that, when managed, could help reduce your chances for
stroke or heart attack.
High blood pressure, often referred to as the “silent killer,” does
not have any symptoms, but can cause serious damage to arteries, leading
to heart disease and stroke. Nearly one in three adults in the United
States has high blood pressure, and because there are no symptoms, many
remain unaware of the condition for years, according to the American
Medical Group Foundation (AMGF). A blood pressure screening in a
doctor’s office can determine if you have healthy or high blood
pressure. Doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and other health professionals
can help patients understand the risk factors for high blood pressure
and its health problems, and recommend lifestyle modifications and/or
medicines to control the disease.
We encourage adults to get in
control by using lifestyle changes, including:
- Know your numbers – Understanding what blood pressure is and
what your numbers are is an important first step. At its simplest, blood
pressure is the force of blood pushing against the walls of the
arteries as the heart pumps blood. Work with your health care team to
determine your individual blood pressure goals and treatment plan if
your numbers are too high.
- Eat right – A diet with excessive
sodium (salt) may cause a person to retain fluid, which can lead to
higher blood pressure. Potassium can help the body balance this sodium.
Foods high in potassium include bananas, plain baked potatoes, avocados
and cooked white beans.
- Stay active – On average, people who are
more active tend to have lower heart rates, which means the heart does
less work each time it contracts, reducing the pressure on arteries.
Adults should be active at least 30 minutes each day.
- Reduce
stress – Many Americans respond to stressful situations by eating more,
getting less exercise, drinking or smoking. Plus, a stressful situation
can also increase blood pressure for a short period of time. Try to
reduce the occurrence of these situations and look for healthy ways -
like meditation or walking - to help you deal with stress.
- Set
alcohol limits and eliminate tobacco – Over time, consuming a high
amount of alcohol can damage the heart. Recommendations are for women to
limit themselves to one drink a day and for men to two drinks to avoid
seeing an increase in blood pressure. Tobacco use and secondhand smoke
can immediately raise blood pressure levels and cause damage to the
lining of arteries. If you’re interested in quitting your tobacco use,
call 1-800-QUIT-NOW.
- Take medication – Your doctor may recommend
taking a blood pressure medication to keep levels steady. Be sure to
follow the directions provided for taking the medications to ensure
you’re getting the most benefit from them.