It seems like everyone has high blood pressure these days. With all the stresses and demands from work, our families, friends, and everything else we cram into our daily lives, whose blood pressure wouldn't be high? It is true that our lives are often so hectic that we forget to take care of ourselves - get regular check-ups, watch what we eat, exercise, but what we don't know, CAN hurt us.
According to recent estimates, nearly one in three U.S. adults has high blood pressure, but because there are no symptoms, nearly one-third of these people don't know they have it. (American Heart Association)
Hypertension, commonly referred to as high blood pressure, is when there is tension or high pressure in the arteries, which carry blood from the heart to the rest of the body. This makes the heart have to work harder to pump blood that the rest of the body needs because not enough blood is able to get through. This puts a person at a higher risk for stroke, heart attack and kidney failure. It is unknown what exactly causes hypertension, but there are things like salt intake, age, and genetics that may have a part in it.
This condition can be dangerous, but it is also the No. 1 modifiable risk factor for stroke and also lowers risk for other life-threatening conditions like heart attacks, kidney failure and heart failure. There is medication available to aid in controlling hypertension, but other ways to lower your blood pressure include exercise, modifying your diet, smoking cessation, and weight reduction. So if you change and/or add specific behaviors to your daily routine, you might be able to considerably lower your risk for these serious medical problems.
The condition has been called "The Silent Killer", because symptoms typically appear only after complications or damage has already occurred. (MedicWeb.org)
Since symptoms of hypertension rarely appear, it is important to keep on top of your health. The only way to detect a problem is to get your blood pressure checked!
Ask your doctor or call the Mountain Lakes Health Department at
973-334-3131 for more information.
Christina Whitaker
Licensing and Records Official