Your Heart Under Pressure
Radiohead’s Thom Yorke once described “Under Pressure” by David Bowie and Queen as the perfect pop song. And while it does rock a memorable bass line, what you don’t want to rock is a heart “under (too much) pressure.”
That’s because one of the most common risk factors for heart disease is high blood pressure, also known as hypertension.
According to the CDC, nearly 47% of American adults suffer from high blood pressure. And, if left untreated, high blood pressure can make you much more likely to have a stroke or heart attack.
The five blood pressure ranges recognized by the American Heart Association are normal, elevated, hypertension stages 1 and 2 and hypertensive crisis. Once your blood pressure level reaches the hypertension stage, lifestyle changes and medication are often needed.
Here’s the good news. There are things you can do to lower your blood pressure right now. Over the next few days, we’ll share six ways to help manage your blood pressure and improve your heart health. So get ready to sleep better, laugh more, get romantic (ooh la la!), and much more!
If you don’t know your numbers, check your blood pressure as soon as possible. Your doctor can check for you. Or, many drugstores, grocery stores and pharmacies have blood pressure stations you can use in the store. You can also buy a home blood pressure monitor to help keep track of your numbers over time.