The importance of checking your Blood Pressure

Do you remember the last time you had your blood pressure checked?

If your blood pressure is in the healthy range and you have no other risk factors such us cardiovascular disease, diabetes or family history of high blood pressure, you should have it checked at least twice a year during your routine visits to your doctor.

However, it is best to check your blood pressure periodically because in some cases people can develop Hypertension (high blood pressure) without noticing any symptoms at all. This is why, Hypertension or High Blood Pressure is commonly known as the “silent killer.” This condition is a leading cause to serious complications such as heart and kidney failure, stroke and even vision loss, among others.

Developing high blood pressure is the result of a myriad of factors, including family history, diabetes, obesity, high consumption of alcohol or salty foods and a sedentary life, just to name a few. If your doctor discovers that you have of high blood pressure, he/she will review your medical history and most likely will have other tests performed in order to provide the proper treatmeant for you.

Along with the right treatment, a change in your lifestyle can help you make significant gains to maintain your blood pressure within the healthy range. Some of these changes might include:

• Eating a healthy diet low in salt
• Exercising regularly
• Maintaining a healthy weight or losing weight if you’re overweight
• Limiting the amount of alcohol intake

Once your treatment program becomes a routine, you will find that maintaining a lower blood pressure is easier. Always keep in mind that by managing your blood pressure, you are improving your overall health and lowering your risk for heart attack, stroke and other serious conditions.