How to Monitor and Maintain Your Blood Pressure

May is National Blood Pressure Month, and while awareness for other illnesses has become highly prevalent, blood pressure issues can be incredibly detrimental to your health and should not be ignored. In fact, high blood pressure is quite common.  According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,  one out of three Americans are diagnosed with high blood pressure. According to redorbit.com, “Hypertension is called ‘the silent killer’ because it doesn’t have any obvious symptoms but can cause damage to the brain, heart, and kidneys. Furthermore, many Americans don’t have hypertension correctly controlled. African Americans, in particular, are more at risk for developing hypertension and having it diagnosed at a younger age.” Despite these daunting statistics, it can be very simple to monitor and maintain your blood pressure. Here are some great tips to prevent high blood pressure via WebMD.com:

• Maintaining a healthy weight. Being overweight can make you two to six times more likely to develop high blood pressure than if you are at your desirable weight. Even small amounts of weight loss can make a big difference in helping to prevent and treat high blood pressure.
• Getting regular exercise: People who are physically active have a lower risk of getting high blood pressure (20%-50% lower) than people who are not active. You don’t have to be a marathon runner to benefit from physical activity. Even light activities, if done daily, can help lower your risk.
• Reducing salt intake: Often, when people with high blood pressure cut back on salt, their blood pressure falls. Cutting back on salt also prevents blood pressure from rising.
• Drinking alcohol in moderation, if at all: Drinking too much alcohol can raise your blood pressure. So to help prevent high blood pressure, if you drink alcohol, limit how much you drink to no more than two drinks a day. The “Dietary Guidelines for Americans”  recommend that for overall health, women should limit their alcohol to no more than one drink a day.
• Reduce Stress: Stress can make blood pressure go up and over time may contribute to the cause of high blood pressure. There are many steps you can take to reduce your stress. The article on easing stress will get you started.

We hope these tips are helpful to you, and make sure to visit our Facebook page, and let us know what your tips are for maintaining your blood pressure.