May is Lower Your Blood Pressure Month

The Mission:
To Combat High Blood Pressure in America

May is National High Blood Pressure Education Month. Because far too many of us needlessly fall victim to high blood pressure and its deadly consequences, there is an all-out push is being promoted this month by the U.S. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute to get us more attuned to what each of us can do to HELP ourselves prevent and control this disease.

This year's awareness campaign is taking on a bold and aggressive approach. "Mission Possible: Prevent and Control High Blood Pressure" is the theme of the May 2006 National High Blood Pressure Education Month Campaign. A special focus this year is on reaching out to businesses, community groups, and members of religious congregations. It's time for us to be serious about preventing high blood pressure.

The Mission:
To Combat High Blood Pressure in America. Join the cause... Help yourself or someone you love starting now!

BP HEALTH TIP: Make physical activity a regular part of the day. Choose activities that you enjoy and can do regularly. For example, to reach a 30-minute goal for the day, walk the dog for 10 minutes before and after work, and add a 10 minute walk at lunchtime. Or, swim 3 times a week and take a yoga class on the other days.

What Is High Blood Pressure?

High blood pressure IS a force to be reckoned with. It's no joke, high blood pressure is risky business. High Blood Pressure is called the silent killer because there are no warnings or symptoms... but we can save lives.

Blood pressure is the force of blood against the walls of arteries. When that force stays too high, it becomes a life-threatening condition—high blood pressure (also called hypertension). It makes the heart work too hard, hardens the walls of arteries, and can cause the brain to hemorrhage or the kidneys to function poorly or not at all.

A blood pressure reading of 140/90 mmHg or higher is considered high. Normal blood pressure is less than 120/80 mmHg.

Who does high blood pressure impact?

• More than 65 million American adults — 1 in 3 — have high blood pressure
  
• Nearly 60 million Americans are over age 55 which means they have a 90 percent likelihood of developing high blood pressure in their lifetimes.
  
• African Americans and Latinos are more likely to develop high blood pressure than any other racial or ethnic group and tend to develop it earlier and more severely than others.
  
• Women: More women than men have died of cardiovascular diseases every year since 1984. CVD kills as many women each year as the next 16 causes of death combined, including breast cancer. Early detection and treatment of high blood pressure could prevent many of these deaths.
  
• 18 million Americans have diabetes which increases their chances of developing high blood pressure.
  
• 122 million American adults are overweight or obese which increases their chances of developing high blood pressure.
  
• Older Americans: The likelihood of developing high blood pressure increases with age. New research shows that middle-aged and older Americans have a 90 percent chance of developing high blood pressure in their lifetimes.
  

Anyone can develop high blood pressure. But these factors increase the risk: being overweight or obese... being physically inactive... high salt and sodium intake... low potassium intake (due to not eating enough fruits and vegetables)... excessive alcohol consumption... and diabetes.

There are easy things we can do now; like

• Know Your BP Numbers
  
• Establish Healthy Habits for Eating & Living
  
• Develop Everyday Strategies for Improving Our Lives
  

HBP Learn more

Tomorrow we'll look at some of the easy things you can do now to help yourself or a loved one.

Life is not merely to be alive, but to be well. ~Marcus Valerius Martial