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Cardiovascular
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), heart disease and stroke are the most common cardiovascular diseases. They account for an alarming 40 percent of all deaths of men and women in the United States. According to CDC statistics, more than 910,000 Americans die of cardiovascular disease in the U.S. each year, or approximately one death every 35 seconds.
Blood Pressure
According to the Heart Lung and Blood Institute 1 in 3 Americans have high blood pressure. It is often called the “silent killer” because the person who has it feels no symptoms. Therefore through the years it can quietly do damage to the heart, lungs, kidney and brain. That is why it is so important to have your blood pressure checked often and schedule regular physical exams.
What Do Blood Pressure Numbers Signify?
Having your blood pressure taken actually measures the pressure that the blood exerts on the walls of your arteries when your heart beats. Blood pressure is represented as a fraction. The top number, or numerator, is called the systolic blood pressure and measures the pressure within the walls of the arteries when the heart is contracted during a beat. The lower number, or denominator, is called the diastolic pressure and it measures the pressure exerted within the walls of the arteries when the heart is relaxed. A normal blood pressure value should not be higher than 120/80.
The systolic number is always higher than the diastolic number.
The blood pressure values can change throughout the day and increase with stress, excitation, or exercise but for the norm the average resting blood pressure should remain no higher than 120/80. If you have a strong family history of high blood pressure, chances are that you may at some point develop high blood pressure.
How Can I Prevent High Blood Pressure?
Quitting smoking, maintaining a proper weight, and a regular exercise program of at least 30 minutes 5 days a week along with a healthy lifestyle, can help to prevent high blood pressure. Read more about blood pressure, the causes, and different types at these links:
National heart Lung and blood Institute
You’re Guide to Lowering High Blood Pressure
Cholesterol Confusion
One of the major risk factors contributing to cardiovascular disease is a high cholesterol level. The CDC reports that lowering one’s blood cholesterol level by 10 percent may reduce the incidence of coronary heart disease by as much as 30 percent.
Clear Up That Cholesterol Confusion
Often, people get confused about the different types of cholesterol values—LDL, HDL, triglycerides, total
cholesterol—and their significance. To learn more, check out this American Heart Association webpage. Then
pass the information on to a friend or loved one, for it is through knowledge and action that we can help lower
To learn how savvy you are about cholesterol, try this quiz, also from the American Heart Association.
For additional information, visit Cardiovascular Resources.
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