Did you know that you can suffer from hypertension (also known as high blood pressure), yet feel completely fine?
Unlike many diseases and illnesses, high blood pressure (HBP) has no symptoms, causing many sufferers to delay or unknowingly refuse treatment. The symptom-less qualities of HBP can have dire consequences that lead to other, more severe ailments such as stroke, heart disease, and kidney failure.
As with many other diseases, African-Americans are at a higher risk of having hypertension than any other group.
What is HBP?
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, HBP is described “as blood flows from your heart to your blood vessels, it pushes against the walls of your blood vessels. This pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury (mmHg). The reading often is recorded as two numbers-the pressure while the heart beats (systolic pressure) over the pressure while the heart relaxes between beats (diastolic pressure). The numbers are written one above or before the other. The systolic number comes first, or on top, and the diastolic number comes second, or on the bottom.”
Prevention and care
The great thing about hypertension is that the same methods used to prevent it, are also used as treatment options that help control your blood pressure.
Keep a healthy weight – Being overweight adds to your risk of HBP. Ask your doctor if your weight puts you at risk for HBP and if you need to lose weight.
Exercise each day – Moderate exercise can lower your risk of heart disease. Try to exercise at least 30 minutes a day, five days a week or more. Check with your doctor before starting a new exercise plan if you have a chronic health problem, or if you are over age 40 (men) or 50 (women).
Maintain a healthy diet – To control HBP, eat a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat dairy products.
Limit the salt – Most Americans eat more salt than they need. A low-salt diet will help lower your blood pressure. Also, avoid foods that come already prepared, as they often are high in salt.
Drink less alcohol – Drinking alcohol can affect your blood pressure. The effect is different for each person. As a general rule, scientists suggest that men limit alcohol to no more than two drinks a day. For women and lighter weight people, they suggest no more than one drink a day.
Quit smoking – Smoking injures blood vessel walls and speeds up the process of hardening of the arteries. This applies even to filtered cigarettes. So even though it does not cause high blood pressure, smoking is bad for anyone, especially those with high blood pressure. Once you quit, your risk of having a heart attack is reduced after the first year.
Take your HBP medicine just as your doctor directs – If lifestyle changes alone do not control your HBP, your doctor may tell you to take blood pressure medicine. You may need to take your HBP medicine for the rest of your life. If you have questions about your medicine, talk to your doctor.
Know your numbers – Get your blood pressure checked and keep a log of your readings.
Portions of information provided by the National Office of Minority Health.
