Raising Awareness, Lowering the Pressure

May commemorates Hypertension Awareness Month to encourage everyone to pay close attention to their blood pressure. With more than 600,000 people dying from heart disease in the United States and high blood pressure being the leading cause, everyone must care for themselves.

High blood pressure happens when the force of the blood against the artery walls is too high. It develops over time and results in very unhealthy lifestyle choices. You can slowly create problems with high blood pressure from not getting enough regular physical activity, sleep deprivation, consuming too much salt, and not eating enough fruit and vegetables.

What is alarming about having high blood pressure is that there are little to no related symptoms. However, you may want to check your blood pressure levels if you have moderate or severe headaches, anxiety, shortness of breath, nosebleeds, or palpitations. The best way to check your blood pressure is through a visit to your doctor, where you use a sphygmomanometer (blood pressure monitor). Attached to the machine is an inflatable cuff. To use it, wrap it around your arm and slightly tighten it to measure your blood pressure. The numbers on the blood pressure monitor help show what your blood pressure levels are. However, no matter your age, your average blood pressure should be 120/80 or lower. Anything too low or higher can be seen as alarming.

Typically, your blood pressure increases with age, with the risk peaking around age 45. Though the risk is higher when you get older, young people also suffer from high blood pressure. Young Black Americans tend to develop more severe high pressure resulting in 1 in 8 adults ages 20-40. It is also more common among men than women. Though high blood pressure can happen to anyone, there are ways to keep your pressure at bay. Here are a few ways to regulate your blood pressure.

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Exercise Regularly

Regularly exercising for 30 minutes a day can help reduce your blood pressure. Walking, jogging, cycling, swimming, and dancing can all be fun ways to keep your blood pressure down.

Eating a healthy diet.

A healthy diet can do a lot for the body, and many fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy products aim to lower high blood pressure. Potassium can lessen the effects of salt on high blood pressure.