(BlackDoctor.org) — High blood pressure happens when blood can’t flow easily
through your blood vessels. This puts pressure on your vessels, which damages
the vessels and strains your heart. As a result, blood doesn’t flow as well to
your organs, and you can have a heart attack, stroke, or kidney failure.
High blood pressure has no symptoms. See your doctor once a year to have your
blood pressure checked.
One out of three Americans has high blood pressure. African American women of
all ages develop high blood pressure more often than non-Hispanic white women.
Some things increase your chances of having high blood pressure: increasing age
(middle aged or older), diabetes, obesity (or being overweight), alcohol use,
eating too much salt, a family history of high blood pressure, and not
Making some lifestyle changes can help prevent or control high blood
• If you are overweight, lose weight. Losing just 10 pounds
can lower your blood pressure.
• Get moving. Aim for 30 minutes of exercise a day, most
days of the week. Try taking the stairs instead of the elevator. Or, walk during
breaks at work.
• Eat right. Eat lots of fruits, vegetables, and whole
grains. Choose low-fat dairy products. Eat less salt.
• Don’t smoke. If you smoke, try to quit.