HHS HealthBeat (November 14, 2012)

Good pressure

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I’m Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.

A high-pressure life can be bad for you, especially if it’s high blood pressure. But it’s common. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says 1 in 3 adults has high blood pressure, and only half have it under control. High blood pressure can lead to heart disease and stroke. Many people with high blood pressure don’t know they have it, because it has no symptoms.

CDC Researcher Amy Valderrama:

“If it’s high, you should get it checked at all your doctor’s visits, and you can get your blood pressure checked between your doctor’s visits, at home, with your own home blood pressure monitor, at a grocery store, or at a pharmacy.”

Being overweight or obese, being inactive, smoking, and drinking too much alcohol, can raise the risk of high blood pressure.

A study on blood pressure is in CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

Learn more at healthfinder.gov.

HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I’m Ira Dreyfuss.

Last revised: November 14, 2012