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Common Misconceptions about High Blood Pressure Pt
2
If you have
high cholesterol, you automatically have
high blood pressure.
False. High blood cholesterol doesn’t
automatically lead to
high blood pressure, but many
of the same lifestyle habits that may
increase blood cholesterol levels also may
cause elevated blood pressure.
Examples include a diet high in saturated
fat, lack of physical activity and drinking
too much alcohol. Uncontrolled high blood
pressure can lead to stroke, heart attack,
hardening of the arteries, congestive heart
failure and/or kidney disease.
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In some cases, it can
cause blindness. High blood pressure can
only be detected by having it checked.
These days
everyone has high blood pressure. It’s just
a fact of life, and I don’t need to worry
about it.
These are stressful times, and stress may
add to your risk factors for high blood
pressure. That’s why it’s so important
to have your blood pressure checked. People
with uncontrolled high blood pressure are
three times more likely to develop coronary
heart disease and six times more likely to
develop congestive heart failure. Also,
high blood pressure is the No. 1
modifiable risk factor for stroke. Every
45 seconds, someone in America has a
stroke. That means about 700,000
Americans will have a stroke this year;
nearly 158,000 of them will die. Stroke is
the USA's No. 3 killer and a leading cause
of severe, long-term disability.
Learn more about Stroke
I took my high blood pressure medication
for a while, but I’m feeling much better
now. I figure it’s OK to cut it back or even
quit.
Absolutely not. High blood pressure
is a lifelong disease. It can be controlled
but not cured. If your doctor has prescribed
medication for you, take it exactly as
prescribed for as long as the doctor tells
you to take it. Decreasing dosage or not
taking the medication is dangerous. It’s
also important to make the right lifestyle
changes by eating a low-salt,
low-saturated-fat diet; maintaining a
healthy weight; getting plenty of physical
activity (30–60 minutes on most or all days
of the week); and staying away from tobacco
products. This will help control your
blood pressure and thus reduce your risk
for stroke, heart attack, heart failure and
kidney disease.
Learn more about
testing and monitoring your blood
pressure.
Part 3
Keywords: High
Blood Pressure, Stress, Symptoms of
High Blood Pressure
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