State health department teaches high blood pressure prevention

But the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services is using the month of May – National High Blood Pressure Education Month – to help Missourians learn more about high blood pressure risks and prevention and to show them the burden it places on communities.

“High blood pressure is a serious condition that contributes to a number of disabling and life-threatening health problems,” said Judy Alexiou, manager of the Missouri Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Program, in a news release. “Missourians need to know about the dangers of high blood pressure and find out if they have it or are at risk for it.”

Blood pressure is the force of blood against the walls of arteries. High blood pressure is dangerous because it makes the heart work too hard and contributes to the hardening of arteries. It also increases the risk of heart disease and stroke, the first and third leading causes of death in the United States, respectively. High blood pressure also can result in kidney disease, congestive heart failure and blindness.

Costs associated with treating patients with high blood pressure are more than $100 billion nationwide. In Missouri, direct care costs due to high blood pressure are estimated at $100 million a year, the release said.

Blood pressure rises and falls throughout the day, but it is considered high blood pressure, or hypertension, if it stays elevated over time, according to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.

A blood pressure level of 140/90 or higher is considered high. A blood pressure reading between 120/80 and 130/89 is called prehypertension, meaning that the individual is likely to develop high blood pressure in the future.

“It is vital that people know their numbers by getting their blood pressure checked regularly. Once you know what your blood pressure is, you can take steps to treat it if it is high, or prevent it from rising,” Alexiou said.

Many people will likely face high blood pressure at some point in their lives.

“A person who does not have high blood pressure at age 55 still faces a 90 percent chance of developing the condition,” said Dr. Barbara Alving, director of the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.

However, high blood pressure can be controlled and prevented through lifestyle changes, including maintaining a healthy weight, being physically active, having healthy eating habits, reducing sodium in the diet, managing stress, taking prescription medications as directed, stopping tobacco use and drinking alcohol only in moderation.