Cardiac Disease is still the #1 cause for death for women in America. 1 in 4 women die from heart disease. Hypertension (high blood pressure) is a major risk factor for heart disease in America.
Why is having good blood pressure so important? Hypertension can cause:
-Aneurysm
-Chronic Kidney Disease
-Heart Failure
-Peripheral Arterial disease
-Vascular Dementia
-Heart Attack
-Stroke
-Worsening severity of COVID-19
What is normal Blood Pressure and what does it mean. Your systolic
Systolic pressure (the top number): the pressure as your heart beats or pumps blood into your arteries. Diastolic pressure (the bottom number): the pressure when your heart rests between beats. Normal Blood Pressure is 120mmHg/ 80mmHg measure in millimeters of Mercury.
What is considered elevated blood pressure. American Heart Association details this nicely with the following chart.
What can I do?
-Exercise regularly. This includes 150 minutes of moderate exercise
-Eat a healthy diet rich with fruit and vegetables
-Avoid food high in sodium. Keep your sodium intake below 2500mg per day
-Stop Smoking
-Manage Stress levels
-Moderate alcohol consumption.
-Take your blood pressure medications if prescribed
-Monitor your blood pressure using a home automatic cuff
- Seek help with a trained professional or talk to your provider to prevent or manage your blood pressure.
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