- Common symptoms of high blood pressure include nervousness, sweating and difficulty sleeping.
- Every time I go to the doctor, my blood pressure is high, but that’s just because I’m nervous. I’m sure my blood pressure is OK at home.
- If you have high cholesterol, you automatically have high blood pressure.
- These days everyone has high blood pressure. It’s just a fact of life, and I don’t need to worry about it.
- 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.
- High blood pressure is a man’s problem. I’m a woman so I don’t have to worry.
- I can take any kind of over-the-counter medications when I have a cold or the flu.
- You don’t need to have your high blood pressure checked until you reach middle age.
1. Common symptoms of high blood pressure include nervousness, sweating and difficulty sleeping.
Wrong. High blood pressure has NO symptoms. That’s why it’s often called the “silent killer.” The only way to know if you have it is to have your blood pressure checked. Some people who look and feel fit and healthy may find that they have high blood pressure. Likewise, some people who have other risk factors for heart disease and/or stroke (such as being overweight or smoking) may not have high blood pressure. According to recent estimates, about one in three U.S. adults has high blood pressure, and nearly one-third of them don’t know it. That puts them at risk for stroke, heart attack, heart failure, kidney disease and even blindness in some cases. Have you had your blood pressure checked recently? Learn more about getting your blood pressure checked.
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2. Every time I go to the doctor, my blood pressure is high, but that’s just because I’m nervous. I’m sure my blood pressure is OK at home.
Some people may experience what’s called “white-coat hypertension” when they’re at the doctor’s office. This means their blood pressure is elevated temporarily due to nervousness. Many things can affect your blood pressure, including physical exertion, emotional fluctuations and stress. Monitoring at home may be one way to measure your true blood pressure and give your doctor a log of blood pressure measurements over time. Even though there are factors that can affect your blood pressure, you should never ignore several readings that indicate you may have high blood pressure. Learn more about monitoring your blood pressure at home.
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3. 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. In some cases, it can cause blindness. High blood pressure can only be detected by having it checked. Learn more about risk factors for high blood pressure.
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4. 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. About 69 percent of people who have a first attack, 77 percent who have a first stroke, and 74 percent who have congestive heart failure have BP higher than 140/90 mm Hg. 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; about 150,000 of them will die. Stroke is our nation's No. 3 killer and a leading cause of severe, long-term disability. To learn more about other factors that can increase your risk of stroke and how to help prevent stroke, visit the American Stroke Association.
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5. 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 diet rich in fruits, vegetables and whole-grain high-fiber products; choosing fat-free and low-fat dairy products, legumes, poultry and lean meats; and eating fish, preferably omega-3 containing fish (e.g. salmon, trout, herring). Such a diet is low in saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol and sodium (salt), and high in potassium. Dietary potassium from fruits, vegetables and fat-free or low-fat dairy may help lower your blood pressure. You should also attain and maintain a healthy weight, get plenty of physical activity (at least 30 minutes of moderate intensity on most or all days of the week) and stay 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 blood pressure medications.
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6. High blood pressure is a man’s problem. I’m a woman so I don’t have to worry.
High blood pressure can be anyone’s problem. In fact, women need to be aware of certain things that may put them at a greater risk for high blood pressure than men. If you’re on the Pill, pregnant, overweight, postmenopausal, African American or have a family history of high blood pressure, you may be more likely to have high blood pressure. It’s important to get the facts so you can reduce your risk for stroke, heart disease or kidney disease by controlling as many high blood pressure risk factors as you can. Read more of the American Heart Association’s special message to women.
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7. I can take any kind of over-the-counter medications when I have a cold or the flu.
That’s not true. People with high blood pressure should know that taking certain cold, cough and flu medications could be dangerous. Decongestants have been reported to increase blood pressure and may interfere with blood pressure medications. Many over-the-counter drugs can have a dangerous effect on certain heart conditions and increase your risk for heart disease, heart attack and stroke. If you’re one of the 65 million Americans who have high blood pressure, make sure to choose cold and flu medications that don’t contain decongestants. Learn more about safe over-the-counter medications.
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8. You don’t need to have your high blood pressure checked until you reach middle age.
It’s a good idea to start having your blood pressure checked at an early age — even children as young as 6 can have high blood pressure. When kids reach the teen years, they should certainly have their pressure checked. According to research, teenagers with the highest blood pressure and extra pounds have thicker arteries by age 30. Preventing fatty buildups in artery walls may depend on keeping boys and girls from becoming overweight as adolescents, or helping them lose excess weight if they’re already obese. Age, body size and the degree of sexual maturation determine blood pressure levels in adolescence. Heavier and more sexually mature teenagers tend to have higher blood pressure. Learn more about children and high blood pressure.
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WARNING: HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE IS A SILENT KILLER!
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This information is from
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To the best of our knowledge, the information contained herein is accurate. However, neither Binson's, or any of its subsidiaries assumes any liability whatsoever for the accuracy or completeness of the information contained herein. This information is for educational purposes only.
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