Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Those are the findings in a recent study on high blood pressure, conducted by the Institute of Medicine. High blood pressure, or hypertension, claims the lives and limits the quality of life for untold millions of Americans every year.Neglecting high blood pressure is a very costly proposition for the United States. The Centers for Disease Control spent $57 million on heart disease and stroke prevention last year, while it cost the health care system at least $73 billion. Hypertension is linked to heart attacks, is a leading cause of strokes and kidney failure, and plays a role in blindness and even dementia.
For women, the guidelines don't focus on heart risk. Instead, the task force recommends certain women should take aspirin regularly if they are 55 to 79 and are in danger of having an ischemic stroke, for reasons that could include high blood pressure and diabetes.
The report said that high blood pressure could be reduced by as much as 22 percent by taking simple steps including reducing salt in the diet, eating more fruits and vegetables.
Healthy lifestyle habits for preventing and controlling high blood pressure.- Reducing Salt and Sodium in Your Diet.
- Maintaining a Healthy Weight.
- Being Physically Active.
- Limiting Alcohol Intake.
- Quitting Smoking.
- Work in the garden or backyard, or go out dancing or to an aerobics session daily.
- Other things too may help prevent hypertension, like calcium, potassium, fish oils, magnesium and stress management.
posted by emedinfo
@9:14 PM
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