Health Officer John Hopper and the Paramus Board of Health have declared May as “High Blood Pressure Control Month†in order to increase the public’s knowledge about hypertension and its risks. The National High Blood Pressure Education Program estimates that 50 million people in this country have high blood pressure; sixty percent of those are over the age of 60, and predominantly women.
For most people, high blood pressure has no symptoms that they can feel, but that doesn’t mean that there are no ill effects on their health. Blood pressure that is too high leads to blood vessels that are less elastic or “hardenedâ€. It can cause the heart muscle to stretch and thicken and eventually stop pumping properly. The end result is that organs such as the kidneys and brain are then deprived of oxygen and proper nutrients. Eventually untreated hypertension can lead to heart attack, blindness, kidney failure or stroke.
High blood pressure can happen to anyone. Having a family history of hypertension is a risk factor that cannot be controlled but there are several that can. Individuals are more likely to suffer from high blood pressure if they are overweight, smoke, have a diet high in fat, lack exercise, use alcohol heavily, are sensitive to salt in their diet or under emotional stress. Anxiety may make blood pressure temporarily higher, but after taking steps to relieve the stress, the blood pressure should be re-evaluated. Post-menopausal women are more likely to be found with high blood pressure than their younger sisters.
There is no cure for hypertension, but with your doctor’s help it can be controlled. Often an increase in exercise and change in diet may help but sometimes medication is needed. If so, it needs to be taken as the doctor directs. Proper medication may need to be taken for the rest of your life, and is not a substitute for a healthy lifestyle.
If you have hypertension and have not taken the steps to have it treated, be aware of the signs of a heart attack. Most heart attacks start slowly, with mild chest discomfort that may last more than a few minutes. It may feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain. It may include pain in the arms, back, neck, jaw or stomach. Heart attack victims may feel short of breath, lightheaded, nauseated or break out in a sweat. If this happens, don’t wait more than five minutes before calling 911.
Board of Health member Jack Brunner suggests that Paramus residents have their blood pressure checked on May 1st at Paramus Borough Hall. Board of Health nurses will be available in their office from 9:30 – 11:00 AM, 1:30 – 3:00 PM and 6:30 – 8:00 PM. No appointment is necessary. For more information, call 201-265-2100, Ext. 615 or 618.
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