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Understanding the Risks of High Blood Pressure
 Whenever you visit your doctor, chances are
someone wraps a cuff around your upper arm
and checks your blood pressure. But while you
are familiar with this simple test, you may not understand
why your blood pressure is so important to your health.
Why High Blood Pressure Is a Problem
As blood moves through the arteries, it puts pressure
on the artery walls. This pressure goes up and down
depending on several things, including physical activity,
diet, and medications. A person has high blood pressure
when the pressure is elevated most of the time over a
period of time.
It's important to keep tabs on your blood pressure. If
it's high and you don't know it, or if you don't control it, you
may be at greater risk of heart attack, heart failure, stroke,
kidney disease, and other serious conditions. For example,
a study reported in Neurology found that people with high
blood pressure were 60 percent more likely to have “silent”
strokes - strokes that don't cause obvious symptoms but
damage the brain - than those with normal blood pressure.
Detecting high blood pressure early and controlling it can
help you avoid such life-threatening conditions.
Keep It In Check
Blood pressure tends to rise with age. In addition, people
who are obese, who have certain medical problems such
as diabetes, or who take certain medications are also at
risk. There are things you can do to prevent and/or
control high blood pressure:
- Don't smoke.
- Maintain a healthy weight. If you are overweight, try to lose excess pounds. Talk with your doctor if you need help losing weight.
- Eat a heart-healthy diet. Choose a variety of foods that are low in fat, and include lots of fruits, vegetables and whole grains.
- Be physically active. Get at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity activity, such as brisk walking, every day.
- Watch your salt and sodium intake. Aim for no more than 2,400 milligrams, or about 1 teaspoon, a day.
- Take your medication. If you have high blood pressure, take your medication as prescribed.
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