You Don’t Like Being Under Pressure? Neither Does Your Heart!
High blood pressure is very common and potentially fatal
One-third of all Americans have high blood pressure, putting them at increased risk for health problems like heart disease and stroke. Many people with high blood pressure appear symptom-free and don’t even know they have it. However, checking for high blood pressure only requires an inflatable cuff.
Blood pressure is usually expressed as two numbers. The higher number (systolic pressure) represents blood pressure when the heart is contracting; the lower number (diastolic pressure) measures blood pressure when the heart is at rest. High blood pressure for adults is defined as a systolic pressure of above 140 or a diastolic pressure above 90, whereas normal blood pressure is no more than 120 over 80. (Anything in between the two is considered prehypertension.)
Treating high blood pressure begins with a healthy lifestyle: exercise, a good diet, a healthy weight, and avoiding too much alcohol. (Good choices for everyone!) However, some types of high blood pressure will also need to be treated with one or more medications. Talk to your doctor and make sure you’re doing what it takes to keep your blood pressure at a healthy level – because there’s no reason to rush to your deathbed ahead of schedule!
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