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High Blood Pressure: One of the Few Things in Life We Can Control Pittsfield, Massachusetts (MA) - Berkshire Health Systems
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  • Save a Life, Lift Your Soul, Give Blood
  • Team Approach for Breast Cancer
  • Surviving Breast Cancer: A Journey
  • Hunger in the Berkshires
  • Vaccinations Help Avoid Needless Risks
  • Embrace Mindfulness
  • Low Carb High Fat Diet has Benefits
  • Probiotics Uses the Good Bugs to Fight the Bad Ones
  • Use the Power of Nature for Better Health
  • Unplug from Online for Better Health
  • Weight Loss Through Narrowing Your Eating Window
  • Mammography and Dense Breast Tissue
  • Medication-Assisted Treatment for Addiction Disorder
  • Smoker or Former Smoker? Lung Cancer Screening is Recommended for You
  • Be Safe When Using Over the Counter Medications
  • Screenings for Colon Cancer
  • Thyroid Health Essential to Metabolism
  • Go for Nutrition that is Heart Healthy
  • High Blood Pressure and Ways to Lower It
  • Hospitalists: Your Around the Clock Caregiver
  • Weight Loss Surgery Has Lasting Impact
  • Can you Find Joy in the Holidays When Sick?
  • Coping with Holiday Depression
  • When Quitting Smoking You May Need to Try and Try Again
  • Vaginal Birth after C-Section
  • New Tool to Assess Breast Cancer Risk
  • Migraines: How to Treat Them
  • Vestibular Care: It's All in Your Ears
  • Prepare for a Healthy Trip Abroad
  • New Moms Encouraged to Breast Feed
  • Language Diversity Important to Healthcare
  • Latest Advances in Joint Replacement
  • Vaping and Nicotine Addiction
  • Urgent Care or Emergency Department
  • Free Medicare Wellness Visit
  • Rehabilitation from Stroke Onset
  • Life Threatening Stroke Can be Prevented
  • Mammography and MRI for Women with High Risk of Breast Cancer
  • Breaking the Silence on Kidney Disease
  • Stop Mindless Eating
  • Hospitals Working to Improve Heart Health
  • Your Healthy Gut Bacteria
  • Give Up Smoking in 2018
  • Healthy Resolutions for 2018
  • Healthy Giving for 2017
  • Concussions: Myths and Truths
  • Celebrate a Thankful & Healthy Holiday
  • Don't Die of Embarrassment: Get Screened for Colon Cancer
  • Don't Let the Flu Get You This Season
  • Advanced Cardiac Imaging
  • Chronic Wound Care
  • What is a Hospitalist?
  • Healthy Heart Rhythms
  • Wellness Coaching
  • Men's Health In Crisis
  • Prevent Stroke or Respond FAST
  • Walking to Good Health
  • Healing Through Acupuncture
  • Self Care is Our Future
  • Family Wellness - Play Together Stay Healthy Together
  • Rewriting Your Book of Life
  • Pre-Diabetes: A Wake-Up Call for Better Health
  • Overcoming Crisis With Resiliency
  • Stepping Off the Slippery Slope
  • Sleep & Wellness: Learning to Cherish Your Sleep
  • Kicking the Habit and Ending the Fear
  • High Blood Pressure: One of the Few Things in Life We Can Control
  • Friendship is Powerful Medicine
  • It's Flu Season: Get the Vaccine!
  • The Healing Power of Gratitude
  • Where's the Joy?
  • New Year's Resolutions to Live By
  • Preventing Falls: A Leading Health Risk for the Older Population
  • Staying Healthy in the Office
  • Exercising at Home and Staying Fit in the Winter
  • Cardiac Rehabilitation: Regaining a Healthier and Better Life
  • Nutrition & Exercise: Two Great Gifts for Children
  • A Screening That Has Saved More than a Million Lives
  • How Walking Can Change Your Life
  • Injury-Free Sports & Activities
  • Have a Healthy Summer
  • Head to a Farmers' Market
  • Just Breathe
  • Lyme Disease Facts
  • Mindful Eating
  • Empathy in Healthcare
  • Preparing Your Family for an Emergency
  • Helping Someone to Cope with Opioid Addiction
  • Breast Cancer Awareness: Mammograms Save Lives
  • Antibiotic Resistance
  • Lung Cancer Screening
  • Giving Thanks
  • Healthy Holidays

High Blood Pressure: One of the Few Things in Life We Can Control

High Blood Pressure: One of the few things in life we can control
By Susan Kaufman, RN and Kimberly A. Kelly, B.A., CHEC
Published in the Berkshire Eagle - October 12, 2015 

BP check web.JPG

How do you know if you have high blood pressure? Some people say they just feel differently. But for most of us, high blood pressure typically has no symptoms and that’s not good for two very serious reasons: We tend to ignore things we can’t feel, and if we can’t feel it, how dangerous can it be? 

As it turns out, high blood pressure is very serious, increasing the risk for heart attack, stroke, kidney failure and other conditions. It’s also at epidemic levels, with one in three people diagnosed with hypertension – as the condition is called. Blood pressure measures the force of blood against the arteries. Prolonged high blood pressure can damage arteries, which ultimately can affect all organs in the body. People who are over the age of 50 or with a family history of high blood pressure are at greater risk, as are African Americans.  

More than 360,000 American deaths in 2013 included high blood pressure as the primary or contributing cause. Yet despite the health threats, half of all prescriptions written for blood pressure medications are not filled. It’s time to take high blood pressure a lot more seriously. In fact, it’s one of the few things in life that we can actually control. Here’s how: 

Step 1: Know your numbers! Your blood pressure is considered optimal if it is less than 120/80. Any reading where the top number (called systolic) is between 120 and 139, and where the bottom number (called diastolic) is between 80 and 89 means that you may be at risk for high blood pressure. A reading of 140 or higher systolic, and 90 or higher diastolic, is considered high blood pressure. Your doctor or healthcare professional may diagnose hypertension after two blood pressure tests that are higher than normal. 

Step 2: Get your blood pressure back under control. Your doctor may prescribe medication, but there are many things that you can also do to lower your blood pressure - and get much healthier in the process. Getting back to a healthy weight can make a real difference. Taking a brisk daily walk or other exercise for 30 to 60 minutes a day will lower your blood pressure and help you shed a few extra pounds. Reducing stress, limiting alcohol, and giving up smoking should also be part of your program to get your blood pressure under control. 

Step 3: Reduce sodium in your diet. This is a critical step in controlling blood pressure. The amount of salt we eat is way more than what we sprinkle on dinner. Lots of people don’t know that sodium is in bread, pizza, soups, packaged and processed foods, ham, pickles and many, many other foods. If you have high blood pressure, your sodium intake should be 2400mg. per day. Check the labels on your food and start keeping track of how much sodium is actually in your diet. At the same time, begin eating lean protein, fresh fruits and vegetables, which will immediately eliminate a large portion of salt from your diet. 

Step 4: If your physician recommends medication, it is important to take it as ordered. Many blood pressure medications can cause adverse symptoms if stopped suddenly. 

Because of the extent of the high blood pressure epidemic, many community health organizations sponsor free screening clinics, and even provide free blood pressure cuffs for those with hypertension who want to monitor their blood pressure at home. Make sure that a healthcare professional demonstrates how to use the cuff properly so that your readings are as accurate as possible. 

When it comes to lowering and controlling your blood pressure, small changes in weight, exercise, diet, and sodium can make a very big difference in your numbers. You’ll be amazed by the results and have a whole new respect in the power to improve your health. 

Kimberly A. Kelly, B.A., CHEC, is Manager of Community Health & Public Health Initiatives at Berkshire Health Systems. Susan Kaufman, RN, BSN, is Project Coordinator for the BHS Get Cuffed program.

 

 

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