Heart Health – High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure  also called hypertension is a common condition in which the long-term force of the blood against the walls of the artery is high enough to eventually cause health problems, such as heart disease.

Someone can have high blood pressure (hypertension) for years without any symptoms. Even without symptoms, damage to blood vessels and the heart continues and can be detected. Once you detect it, you can work with your doctor to control it.  Uncontrolled high blood pressure increases the risk of serious health problems like  heart attack and stroke. A blood pressure of 140/90mmhg or more for a sustained period is  high blood pressure, or hypertension. Normal blood pressure is below 120/80mmHg, pre-hypertension is 120-139/80-89mmHg.

Eating lots of fruits and vegetables, less salt, limiting alcohol and stress, regular physical activities, proper weight management, smoking cessation, monitoring blood pressure at home are some lifestyle changes that can reduce the risks of hypertension or help control it.

Here is a tool that can help you get started in making some healthy lifestyle changes:

http://tools.bigbeelabs.com/aha/tools/mlc/

Sources:

American Heart Association

Mayo Clinic

Medical News Today