RCMS May Health Recognition - High Blood Pressure Education Month

​Nearly half of adults with high blood pressure are women. Women also have unique risks for high blood pressure — pregnancy, birth control and menopause — increasing stroke risk. Measuring blood pressure regularly may help lower your risk.

High blood pressure – or hypertension – is a major risk factor for heart disease. Half of Americans have high blood pressure, and many don’t know they have it. Have yours checked and talk to a healthcare provider about what your numbers mean for you.

Prevent and Manage High Blood Pressure
Whatever your age, you can take steps each day to keep your blood pressure in a healthy range. You can help prevent high blood pressure—also called hypertension—by making healthy choices and managing other health conditions you may have.
 
Prevent High Blood Pressure
By living a healthy lifestyle, you can help keep your blood pressure in a healthy range. Preventing high blood pressure, which is also called hypertension, can lower your risk for heart disease and stroke. Practice the following healthy living habits:
 
Eat a Healthy Diet

• Keep Yourself at a Healthy Weight
• By Physically Active
• Do Not Smoke
• Limit How Much Alcohol You Drink
• Get Enough Sleep

Manage High Blood Pressure
Learn steps you can take to lower your risk for health problems from high blood pressure (also called hypertension), such as heart disease and stroke.

• Measure Your Blood Pressure on a Regular Basis
• Manage Diabetes
• Take Your Medicine
• Make Lifestyle Changes
• Talk with Your Health Care Team

 
Blood Pressure Medicines
Many people need to take medicine in addition to making lifestyle changes to help keep their blood pressure at healthy levels.
 
How do blood pressure medicines work?
Blood pressure medicines can work several different ways. Blood pressure medicines can keep blood pressure at a healthy level by1:

• Causing your body to get rid of water, which decreases the amount of water and salt in your body to a healthy level
• Relaxing your blood vessels
• Making your heart beat with less force
• Blocking nerve activity that can restrict your blood vessels

 
How do blood pressure medicines work?
Blood pressure medicines can work several different ways. Blood pressure medicines can keep blood pressure at a healthy level by1:

• Causing your body to get rid of water, which decreases the amount of water and salt in your body to a healthy level
• Relaxing your blood vessels
• Making your heart beat with less force
• Blocking nerve activity that can restrict your blood vessels

 
Talk with your health care team about the best type of treatment for you. You may need to take more than one type of medicine to control your blood pressure. You can also talk to your health care team about how long it should take your blood pressure medicine to work.

It is important to take your blood pressure medicine exactly as your doctor tells you to. Do not stop taking your current medicine without talking to your doctor or pharmacist first. Stopping your blood pressure medicine without first talking to your health care team could lead to serious health consequences.
 
For more information please visit: ​https://www.cdc.gov/bloodpressure/manage.htm or ​https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/education/high-blood-pressure/high-blood-pressure-education-month