World Health Day: Control Your Blood Pressure

Every year, The World Health Organization declares a day to be World Health Day, to bring awareness to health issues faced by many people around the world. Millions of people are affected by the same disease everyday, and the World Health Organization wants to bring awareness that no one is alone.

This year, World Health Day brings focus to high blood pressure, which affects millions worldwide. The World Health Organization wants to bring awareness to the fact that many people do not know they have high blood pressure, which leads to about 9 million deaths every year. Their wish is to have people get checked and be aware of their health.

"High blood pressure – also known as raised blood pressure or hypertension – increases the risk of heart attacks, strokes and kidney failure. If left uncontrolled, high blood pressure can also cause blindness, irregularities of the heartbeat and heart failure." These issues that high blood pressure causes can be even worse for seniors, considering they may already be in jeopardy of these problems. The risk of high blood pressure increases as age increases, so seniors are more succeptible to the problems resulting from high blood pressure.

If you already have high blood pressure, or want to prevent it, here are a couple tips to help you improve your health!

Tips to Reduce the Risk of High Blood Pressure

As the World Health Organization clarifys, high blood pressure is preventable and treatable, so making a few lifestyle changes can greatly reduce your risk of developing more problems.

• Good Health Habits- Eating a lot of fruits and vegetables, with vitamins to increase all body functions. Eating healthier will reduce the amount of unhealthy foods you eat, which will make you healthier in general.
• Exercise- Even walking around the block every day will decrease your chances for high blood pressure, and will actually make you feel better!
• Don't Add Extra Salt- Adding salt is usually unneccesary if you actually taste your food first! Try removing the salt shaker from your table, and buying low sodium foods. The reccomended amount of salt is less than 2.4 grams (1 teaspoon) a day. To find out more about salt intake and reduction, check out our free webinar "To Salt, or Not to Salt."
• Go to the Doctor- Get regualr check ups to make sure your blood pressure is at a healthy level. Although the quick blood pressure checks at your local pharmacy is convenient and free, a doctor's measurment is much more accurate, as they can catch other health issues.

Need More Information?

If you'd like more information about senior health, or information about United Methodist Homes, contact us and we'd be happy to help.